Optimism as Jamaica's food-import bill decreases

Agriculture Minister Christopher Tufton believes his call for Jamaicans to consume more local produce is bearing fruit, with the country's food-import bill dropping by US$64 million (J$5.5 billion) in 2009 when compared with the previous year.

Last year, food imports cost the country US$802 million, representing a 7.4 per cent decline over the US$738 million for 2008.

However, it was unclear whether the dip in imports had been matched by a rise in the consumption of locally produced food.

Tufton acknowledged yesterday that not all foods imported could be produced locally.

But he said a study to determine the categories of food and their value that could be replaced revealed that in 2009 approximately J$23.5 billion (US$261 million) of imported foods could be substituted. This represented a little more than 33 per cent of Jamaica's imports.

"The truth is, we could decide to avoid or substitute some of our imports, which could bring this figure down," Tufton said.

However, he noted: "In terms of direct replacement, only 33 per cent of what we currently import can, in fact, be replaced in this manner."

Farmland-use policy

Paving the way for increased agricultural production, Tufton, while making his contribution to the 2010-2011 Sectoral Debate in Gordon House yesterday, said his ministry was seeking to formalise a farmland-use policy this year.

The policy will specify how agricultural lands are to be utilised and, in the case of government leases, the terms of these arrangements.

"We will no longer allow persons to lease government lands and not use it. We intend to standardise leases and the general message will be 'use it or lose it'," Tufton declared.

He said the administration would be tabling a ministry paper on a new farmland-use policy this year.