Jamaican banana farmers receive $50 million to recover plantations after tropical storm

The Jamaican Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will allocate $50 million to the Banana Board to support banana and plantain growers whose plantations suffered damage from Tropical Storm Grace.

Floyd Green, Portfolio Minister, commented that the total loss is estimated at $300 million but the 50-million injection is very important to stimulate the sector.

Green said the loss to the sector is at about 29% of the entire banana and plantain sector. Farms in the eastern parishes of Portland and St Mary were the most affected.

According to the minister, the setback for the sector came at a time when production was increasing.

The Jamaican banana sector was on a growth trajectory with increasing production numbers (+25%), and export numbers have gone up significantly.

source: ​​jamaica-gleaner.com