Difficult times for Jamaica's banana industry

Jamaica's banana industry has been severely affected by the prolonged drought in some sections of the island.

An average 50 per cent of  the industry has been affected by the decline in rainfall and inadequate irrigation systems.

The negative impact has not caused the destruction of  crops, but rather a reduction in quantity and quality. This means that a bunch of  bananas which would normally weigh 50 lbs is now weighing 25 lbs, according to Donald Elvey, General Manager of the All Island Banana Growers Association. 

Mr. Elvey told RJR News on Friday that the impact of  the dry spell on the sector has been greater in some parishes.

Farmers have seen a reduction in production by as much as 75 per cent in some sections of the island, he said, while, in other locations, such as the north western parish of St. James, the loss is approximately 40 per cent.

"So, on average it's around 50 per cent," he estimated.

This has reduced earnings from the banana crop, he said, as there has been a significant drop in "marketable yield."

Mr. Elvey explained that banana farms in Jamaica, except for St. Mary Banana Estate, largely depend on rainfall for irrigation.

He has blamed the decline in rainfall and banana production on the impact of climate change. According to him, before climate change conditions began to affect Jamaica, bananas used to be grown in areas where the rainfall pattern was sufficient to support commercial cultivation of  the crop.

Now, according to him, the situation has changed significantly, rendering such efforts extremely difficult.

He said there is little that can be done to assist farmers in these circumstances.

Nevertheless, the Association has developed a proposal to construct ponds on farms for harvesting water, which would be used to irrigate the tfarms.