Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Alfred Prospere, to fulfill his commitment to the farming community by ensuring that the National Fair Trade Organization receives the necessary assistance to better serve the needs of the banana industry.

Banana remains the main export commodity in Saint Lucia and contributes significantly to foreign exchange. With a thrust towards improving the productivity and quality of banana production in order to secure the foreign banana markets, the Ministry of Agriculture has pledged its commitment to work directly with the National Fair Trade Organization (NFTO) to address the issues plaguing the banana industry.

Officer in Charge of the NFTO, Heidi Simo- Serieux, who was part of the Saint Lucian delegation led by the Minister of Agriculture to the United Kingdom last week, highlights the NFTO’s inability to continue to absorb the cost of quality claims incurred due to substandard fruits shipped to the United Kingdom and then discarded.

“What it means for us is that our growers must be more honest. I will repeat we need more honesty. That small scar, the wrong clipping of the crown, or any little defect that you see may at one point manifest itself and cost us a lot more. Growers must continue to engage all workers in the operation of the bananas, everybody must be involved, and everybody who touches that fruit must understand the technicalities of producing that fruit and getting it to the market in one piece”

 Minister Prospere states that during his interface with a representative from U.K.-based shipping line, Geest Line, he was made aware that the entity will maintain its position fostering banana trade links between Saint Lucia and the United Kingdom.

“We are also concerned that it takes a minimum of twenty-one (21) days for our bananas to get to the U.K. from Saint Lucia, and we have expressed concerns to Geest to indicate the importance of attempting or reducing the length of time it takes. If we can have a shorter period between St. Lucia and the U.K. it will make things a lot better for us”

Minister Prospere continues to encourage farmers to persevere through the hardships of the current banana industry as his ministry formalizes a strategy to improve the conditions of the banana sector.