Export market ripe - Overseas demand for local
vegetables exceeds supply
Date: Thu 09-Sep-1993
Paper Page: 3
Publication: Daily Nation
THE DEMAND for local vegetables on the overseas market is far greater than
what Barbadian farmers can meet.
And, in the first eight months of the year, more than 360 000 pounds of
produce have been exported, earning in excess of half million dollars,
compared with just over $700 000 for the whole of 1992.
Head of the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation's
(BADMC) Export Unit, Althea Jordan-Rocheford, said although more farmers were
cashing in on the million-dollar export market for non-sugar agricultural
produce, they have only scratched the surface.
She told the DAILY NATION that between January and August this year, 361 744
pounds of vegetables were exported, earning Barbados $534 289 dollars. This
was against last year's total output of 542 946 pounds of vegetables which
netted $710 311.
Jordan-Rocheford noted that hot peppers, sweet potatoes, breadfruit, avocado,
spinach, ackees, golden apples and water coconuts were in great demand in the
main markets - London, Birmingham and Canada.
She said there was a dire need for hot peppers but these were not in
abundance.
"Examining the requests from abroad," she said, "it is evident
that there's
much potential for Barbadian non-sugar agricultural produce. Even though our
prices are often higher than other countries, our products are of much higher
quality..."
BADC's general manager, Dr. Attlee Brathwaite, also confirmed the lucrative
potential for non-sugar agriculture. However, he noted that the amount of
irrigation needed in this particular area could pose problems to the island's
water supply.
General manager of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) Haynesley Benn said
there has been a great increase in the number of people joining the Food Crop
Association and expressing an interest in growing food for export.