Ripe banana project slips on lack of demand study
Published:Sunday | August 15, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Avia Collinder, Business Writer
A European Union (EU)-funded banana-ripening project designed to assist small farmers in rural parishes boost the production and sale of the ripened fruit has failed to get off the ground because a market-demand study needed to give it direction has not yet been done.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has now said that it recently signed off on a contract for the research to be done by the University of Technology (UTech).
General manager of the Banana Board, Janet Conie, said two banana-ripening facilities in St James could be expanded, especially to Portland,
The banana-ripening project falls under the European Union Banana Support Programme (EUBSP), which is financed under a special framework of assistance for traditional African Caribbean and Pacific suppliers of the EU.
Sustainable development
The programme has operated in Jamaica since 1996.
The overall objective is the promotion of sustainable development in the traditional banana-growing communities of Portland, St Mary, St James, St Thomas, Clarendon and St Catherine.
The agriculture ministry had, last December, invited applications from researchers to conduct the study by January 13, 2010.
"The survey of the domestic market and the study to determine the structure of Jamaica's banana industry are expected to clearly define the structure of Jamaica's banana and plantain industries; accurately define and measure the domestic market for bananas, plantains and their value-added products," the tender notice said.
The exercise is also expected to "analyse the efficiency of the domestic banana market and conduct preliminary assessment of potential overseas market and the feasibility of re-entry into the traditional banana export market in the United Kingdom."
A value-chain analysis of the banana and plantain industries is also to be done.
The study is to be conducted nationwide over six months.
"Market potential must be clearly defined, (so) the market study is essential," Banana Board's Conie said.
"It has delayed the launch of this ripening project."
A ripe banana marketing campaign, similar to the one now being run by Jamaica Producers Group, has also been delayed because of the time lag in getting the study done, she added.
The study and marketing campaign fall within the purview of the Marjorie Stair-led Rural Agricultural Development Authority-EUBSP project.
Permanent Secretary in the agriculture ministry, Donovan Stanberry, said the ministry understood the importance of the project and the study.
He said it was expected that some of the produce from ripening facilities being leased to farmers in St Mary and St James would be absorbed by the hotel sector.
Some 800 small farmers, he stated, are likely to benefit when the project is duplicated in other areas.
Since the cessation of ripe banana exports from Jamaica in 2008, the market has been flooded with product, but there is a high percentage of spoilage, Stanberry pointed out.
The overall project is expected to contribute to improving
Conie, whose entity is providing technical support, is currently overseeing the selection of lessees for the ripening facilities.
Increase value chain
"The ripening project is to allow growers or other interests to increase the value chain for domestic banana," she said.
She added that the research department at the Banana Board has, for many years, been assisting farmers to go into ripening ventures. Most are still operating successfully, she pointed out.
"Some in St Mary have started since exports closed.
"We train and certify operators of ripening rooms, including Jamaica Producers," she said.
She identified the tourist sector as a potential market for the fruit in St James.
"The quality of ripe fruit from St James is poor. This venture should improve that for St James."
In St Mary, where several other ripening businesses owned by farmers exist, the Banana Board is said to be encouraging the enterprises through technical support.
The general manager noted, too, that Portland had a great deal of raw material to supply ripening ventures there, but the market needed to be clearly defined.