St Thomas farmers receive pimento seedlings

Forty-three farmers in Bethel Gap, St Thomas, received 215 seedlings (five each) recently from the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA) as part of its efforts to revitalise the pimento industry. Another 85 seedlings are to be distributed to an additional 17 farmers in the coming weeks.

"Pimento, in recent times, has seen tremendous growth in the international market, as well as the local market. So JACRA thought now was the best time for our farmers to tap into that market with a boost in the commodity's

production," said Wayne Hunter, acting director general of JACRA.

"As such, the programme is of no cost to the farmers. It is coming out of JACRA's commodity development budget. And, we will continue to distribute as much seedlings as we can across the island. We only ask that the farmers dig the holes for planting," Hunter added.

According to research conducted by JACRA, Jamaica's pimento sector currently suffers from declining production due partly to aged trees, which have passed their peak production years, and unsustainable harvesting practices, threatening the longevity of the sector. This, in turn, has affected Jamaica's ability to meet global demand for the spice, which currently stands at approximately 3,000 metric tons per annum; the island only produces about 190 metric tons per annum.

"The market is open, vibrant and ready for us. But what we have seen is that we just need to increase production. There are companies like McCormick and Big Tree Spice in need of Jamaican pimento, but we just don't have enough to give them," Hunter told farmers.