Fruits and vegetables market stabilising as prices decline

 

The Ministry of Agriculture is reporting that the fruits and vegetables market has shown signs of stabilising, with prices coming down.

 

According to the Ministry, the market recorded a reduction of approximately 17 per cent in October.

 

Of the 31 fruit and vegetable prices analysed between August and October this year, the Ministry said 18 reflected a reduction.

 

The agriculture ministry said among the commodities with notable reductions are salad tomato, moving from $1,090 per kilogramme to $440, resulting in a 61% price change, and green sweet pepper, moving from$1,232/kg to J$660/kg, resulting in a 46% price change.

 

While there was a 21?crease in carrot and green cabbage prices, the agriculture ministry added other commodities such as string beans, okra and pumpkin all experienced marginal reductions in prices.

 

The Ministry credits the decline in prices to its targeted interventions, the resilient farmers and other stakeholders, which have facilitated increased levels of production, particularly in parishes which suffered significant damage due to Hurricane Beryl, notably Portland, St. Thomas, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland.

 

It said this is expected to continue leading into the festive season barring any unforeseen weather phenomenon.

 

It said the increased production levels are a result of the support being provided through the Ministry, in which over 10,000 packs of assorted seeds have been distributed to farmers along with other inputs such as fertilisers and chemicals to assist with cushioning production cost.

 

Meanwhile, the Ministry pointed out that it facilitated the distribution of feed, broiler chicks and pullets, vitamins and other inputs to poultry farmers to facilitate a resurgence of the poultry sector.