Coffee farmers seek Government stimulant
Published: Thursday January 12, 2012 | 12:42 pm
Jerome Reynolds, Gleaner Writer
The All Island Coffee Growers Association is calling for newly appointed agriculture minister Roger Clarke to immediately move to save the industry.
Association president Derrick Simon says the industry is on the brink of seeing the lowest coffee production in decades.
Simon says the low price per box of coffee, reduced markets, unfavourable weather conditions and farmers turning away from the cash crop are affecting the local coffee output.
He says the situation is further compounded by a severe berry borer infestation which he says has been ripping through coffee fields.
The coffee growers association president says based on his calculations he expects output for this crop season to be the lowest in recent years.
It is for this reason he says coffee farmers want the Government to indicate its position on the future of local coffee.
Recently, Christopher Gentles, Director General of the Coffee Industry Board, told the Gleaner that the projection for coffee production had been revised downward from a high of 234,000 boxes to about 150,000 because of issues affecting the industry.
jerome.reynolds@gleanerjm.com
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=34508
The All Island Coffee Growers Association is calling for newly appointed agriculture minister Roger Clarke to immediately move to save the industry.
Association president Derrick Simon says the industry is on the brink of seeing the lowest coffee production in decades.
Simon says the low price per box of coffee, reduced markets, unfavourable weather conditions and farmers turning away from the cash crop are affecting the local coffee output.
He says the situation is further compounded by a severe berry borer infestation which he says has been ripping through coffee fields.
The coffee growers association president says based on his calculations he expects output for this crop season to be the lowest in recent years.
It is for this reason he says coffee farmers want the Government to indicate its position on the future of local coffee.
Recently, Christopher Gentles, Director General of the Coffee Industry Board, told the Gleaner that the projection for coffee production had been revised downward from a high of 234,000 boxes to about 150,000 because of issues affecting the industry.
jerome.reynolds@gleanerjm.com
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=34508
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