Growth in Domestic Crop Production  

 

• Preliminary estimates for the second quarter of 2022 (April-June), show domestic crop production growing to 219,667 tonnes, an increase of 7.4% over the corresponding quarter of 2021. This is also an increase over the January to March quarter of 2022, by 3.6%.
• The main crop groups showing increases in the quarter were yams, which grew by 16.5%, plantains by 11.7%, cereals (sweet and regular corn) 11%, vegetables by 10.3%, and potatoes 4.8%.
• The top contributors to production remain the central parishes, with St. Elizabeth contributing 40,889.5 tonnes to the total national production volume, followed by 31,870.3 tonnes from Trelawny.
• The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is undergoing a national campaign to improve Jamaica’s access to sufficient quantities of affordable, nutritious, safe and fresh local produce. The aim is to reduce the country’s food imports, provide jobs, build livelihoods and make a significant contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

(Source: JIS)