Flagaman farmers walking a thin line - Forced to sell produce at a loss, desperately need Gov't help to open up opportunities

Mark Titus, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Farmers in Flagaman, St Elizabeth, are appealing to the Government to open up opportunities for them to market and sell their produce. This farming community is considered as one of Jamaica's leading producers of tomatoes, scallion, and melon, but it is not realising the expected returns.

"When we grow our crop, there is no market. I just reaped an acre of tomato and was forced to sell it at a loss. They tell us to grow, but they have not provided any window for us to sell," said vegetable farmer Helton Blackwood.

"I only do farming now because I love it. There is not much in it now. You cannot ask us to cultivate and our stuff stay here and rot."

But Donovan Stanberry, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, said the problem of marketing can only be solved when there is planned production.

"The marketing problem will only be solved when the farmers start working with the ministry, and listening to the instructions of our RADA officers," he said on Monday.

Marketing capacity boosted

According to Stanberry, the ministry has boosted its marketing capacity over the years and also established a packing house in Houslow, St Elizabeth, last year.

However, while the post-harvest packing house, which is being operated by GraceKennedy Limited, has done wonders for some members of the farming community, they say more must be done.

GraceKennedy signed a 10-year lease with the Government in September 2011 to run the facility and invested over $43 million in equipment for the plant. The company also has contractual arrangements with the local farmers to supply the facility with produce to meet its operational needs.

It also has plans for the contracted farmers to receive seeds and pesticides discounts, as well as technical training and support.

The 8,800-square-foot Hounslow plant was constructed under the Improving Jamaica's Agricultural Productivity project funded by the Canadian International Development Agency, the Government of Jamaica, and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture at a cost of CDN$6.41 million.

"The cost of fertiliser, seeds, and insecticides is very high, and there is no form of subsidy. It is killing us, and it is hard for us to invest and cannot at least break even," said another farmer.

For some persons, they are willing to continue fighting, but others say if things don't change soon, they will have to hang up their boots.