St. Lucia registers record banana exports for 2014

bananaSaint Lucian farmers have successfully battled Black Sigatoka, and trounced crop damage due to Hurricane Tomas and the 2013 Christmas Eve trough to achieve a record number of banana exports this year.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Production and Fisheres has indicated that about 5,000 tonnes of bananas have been exported to the UK so far in 2014, largely due to continuing government support to battle disease, provision of fertilizers and active cooperation between agriculture officers and the island’s remaining banana farmers.

Grenada, in comparison, is virtually completely out of production for export, while Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines haven’t been able to produce enough to export continuously.

Bananas were once regarded as ‘Green Gold’ in the four Windward Islands, however, preferential treatment disappeared on the European market, thanks to competition from Latin America and a ruling by the World Trade Organization (WTO).

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43 Comments

  1. lougawo
    December 14, 2014

    Soon we will b importin bananas from stlucia

  2. Lang Mama
    December 12, 2014

    St Lucia exported record amounts of bananas we imported record amount of voters

    • Lang Mama
      December 12, 2014

      and we exported record amount of money to the Barbados economy in less than 30 days. Dominicans let us take to the streets and get these imposters out. The police cannot shoot us. We need them out and we want free and fair election.

      • Joe
        December 15, 2014

        Ya, and you safe and sound in the states or wherever you are! Make them buy you a ticket and go down.

  3. The Facts
    December 11, 2014

    St. Lucia receives compliments and exaltation for its record banana export for 2014. This is all well and good. It would be interesting to know how many bunches of bananas were rejected when they arrived at their destination. Why not conduct a survey about that? In all honesty, will the St. Lucian government be eager to reveal this?

  4. Justina
    December 11, 2014

    Aylas, poor Dominica….first thing that fly into my mind is “PM Skerritt congratulates Agriculture Minister Matthew Walter on a job well done”…I want to know what really Matthew Walter did for Agriculture in the 14 years he was there??

    Lord! boi our eyes wide shut in Dominica wi…

    While we walking up and down Ministry steps for hand-outs in the Red Clinic, St. Lucia done PASS us…even with disease and hurricane.

    TO PM SKERRIT: Sir, do you see anything wrong with this picture???

  5. laughingmyassoff
    December 11, 2014

    St Lucians got money in their pockets thanks to BANANA exports AND free tablets from venezuela…Laborites got a promise of a tablet and the Red Clinic…hahahah idiots!

  6. 100% Dominican
    December 11, 2014

    News flash….Skerrit doesnt want to improve agriculture..That would mean “More independent and less dependant (aka begging)….need i explain myself further?

  7. 2 sense
    December 11, 2014

    not another walters in agriculture! who in the 15 You think can make a difference in agriculture or any other industry for that matter. this team does not have diverse talents. in order to grow this economy we need to be export driven and sadly the PM has a huge task because his team does not have it

  8. Think It Over
    December 10, 2014

    Mr. Skerrit, focus on the Marigot Wesley corridor for agriculture. You have punsihed Marigot enough at the expense of the Banana industry. A new minister of agriculture will not make a difference if the attitude toward banana producing communities and agriculture in general don’t change.

    Look out!! Save a Lot will soon be importing Chikita bananas. I am sure the Skerrit adminstration will have no problem with that.

  9. mornepatat
    December 10, 2014

    In the meantime, Whitchurch is selling bananas imported from ST Lucia!!!!!!!!!!

    • Annon
      December 11, 2014

      That fades in comparison to the fact that I saw …’water’ being sold at Save-a-lot from Trinidad. Soon, it seems, save-a lot and Whitchurch dem will be selling water from…. ..U guessed it…. ..Antigua??
      And what’s amazing is that some Dominicans are buying these absurd things. I self want to open a store in Roseau and sell wosh lamere & dirt to those Dominicans. lol lol

    • whoistoblame
      December 12, 2014

      that is a big shame

  10. Agrosuede
    December 10, 2014

    Reposted by Agrosuede Backyard gardening from facbeook

    That’s good news for St Lucia, good news indeed.

    However, I can not help it…this news report saddens me as a Dominican.

    “Grenada, in comparison, is virtually completely out of production for export, while DOMINICA and St. Vincent and the Grenadines haven’t been able to produce enough to export continuously.”

    Dominica was once the main exporter of banana in the Caribbean. What happened? St Lucia is known for it’s vibrant tourist industry, and we are known…or was known for our vibrant Agricultural industry! What happened!?

    My hope is to see our Agricultural sector boom again! We need to rightfully regain our name as “Dominica-the fruit basket of the Caribbean”. God have given us the blessings of an island with abundant water, fertile, and bless “green-thumb” citizens.

    It’s like someone having a beautiful voice, but instead decides to become a horrible or mediocre painter….we need to invest in what we got!

    • B A
      December 11, 2014

      With all due respect, as a Saint Lucian, I can never recall where Dominica has ever been the main exporter of bananas anywhere.
      Perhaps you may need to get your facts all lined up an make a more clear assessment. Because I truly believe you are way off base here.

      Our worst day in the industry could be perceived as Dominca’s best day.

      I know Saint Lucia has always been the main exporter of bananas.

      However, you can prove to me otherwise.
      Cheers!!!

    • NRT
      December 11, 2014

      Did you read or skip the part that said …..”however, preferential treatment disappeared on the European market, thanks to competition from Latin America and a ruling by the World Trade Organization (WTO).”?

      Not only the Windward Islands but all the ACP countries, that ruling almost totally crippled Jamaica and many African countries of millions in population. Thanks to Clinton that gave in to the hugh U.S companies like Dole, Chickita etc….with, not acreage, but square miles of banana fields in Latin America each bigger than the islands combined. That literally slaughtered third World economies.
      I agree, we must do like St. Lucia to keep farmers profitable and feed ourselves. We can’t afford to end up importing ….. …. Fig!

    • NRT
      December 11, 2014

      Did you read or skip the part that said …..”however, preferential treatment disappeared on the European market, thanks to competition from Latin America and a ruling by the World Trade Organization (WTO).”?

      Not only the Windward Islands but all the ACP – African, Caribbean & Pacific countries. That ruling almost totally crippled Jamaica and many African countries of millions in population. Thanks to Clinton that gave in to the Hugh U.S companies like Dole, Chickita etc….with, not acreage, but square miles of banana fields in Latin America each bigger than the islands combined, and they flooded European markets with cheap fig. That literally slaughtered third World economies.
      I agree, we must do like St. Lucia to keep farmers profitable and feed ourselves. We can’t afford to end up importing ….. …. Fig!

    • Papa Dom
      December 12, 2014

      Where have you been? On another planet. We all know why but the lazy people of Dominica voted for the cause because they agree with their little god and favoured aid/begging over trade.

  11. Lougawoo Mem
    December 10, 2014

    Dr. Fontaine and Joshua Francis articulated the message about the government you just elected and the plight of agriculture under their reign, but very few take heed. The farmers cry only touched the patriots. The Red devils will continue to keep agriculture down and give supplements at the Red clinic. Way papa, they just love this backward life.,

    • Malady
      December 11, 2014

      It is time for u to give it a rest Braggador .The people of dominica spoke,god was in control and Ur party lost.Please go back to trimming your hedges until 2019.

      • whoistoblame
        December 12, 2014

        do know that GOd could have put Skerrit there for the punishment of the people? People who condone sin must pay in one way or the other.No sin goes unpunished

  12. COMBOS
    December 10, 2014

    hahahahah check out how much st. lucia government has invested in the control of black sigatoka and in the rehabilitation/replanting of the bananas.. and compare that with the amount that our government has done in Dominica and u will see the reason why we are lagging behind with no export to talk about.. the farmers are languishing in poverty.. object poverty.. but they went and voted labor power back in power…. good luck to them…

  13. yesterday
    December 10, 2014

    And de shouting……5 more Yeeeeeaaaaasrssee. hahah.

  14. Truthhurts
    December 10, 2014

    St. Lucia breaking records in spite of a hurricane, trough, and banana disease. That’s what I call a hard working agricultural industry! How is Dominica’s agricultural industry doing?? Oh well who cares…..

    Labour ka twavay!!!!

    • Truthhurts
      December 10, 2014

      Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers.

  15. 1979aintspam
    December 10, 2014

    I must laugh unno…smh…

  16. AWADAT?
    December 10, 2014

    We need a dedicated and hard working Minister of Agriculture in the new cabinet. One who is going to push for farmers assistance…fertilisers, farm roads, markets, extension officers, etc. etc. please not another Matthew Walter or Vince Henderson. Not one for party supporters but for ALL farmers of Dominica.

  17. December 10, 2014

    Ah the begging days continues… when a government minister can open his mouth on to address a nation and say that VAT is the backbone of an economy. Agriculture must DIE!!! The Dominica Labour party government has no clue what to do with the banana, agricultural industry. The easy way out is to sit on their butts, run their mouth and implement taxes on shrinking incomes.

  18. farmer
    December 10, 2014

    And Dominicans leaving St Lucia to come vote and go back. This is not USA, this is a SIDS like Dominica. But under a government that killed Agriculture the people shout ” Labour ka twavay ”
    Marigot, Salisbury, Wesley have rejected the government which killed agriculture, as it is their bread and butter
    Long live Labour!!!!!

  19. Moi
    December 10, 2014

    WHen yur own governement abandon the backbone of the economy the result is less exports and more imports…we make other countries fatter and we get slimmer….it will be a darmn shame if we are to import bananas. there are bananas in Dominica we can control Black sigatoka…bananas is the only produce that have a sure and consistent market…..look at st vincent, badly struck by black sigatoka until they stopped exporting…look in 2015 they are going to start exporting to the UK….St.lucia government puts money in the u=indusrty every year…we must expect them to do better….

    • Dominicva_Lover
      December 10, 2014

      Labour did not kill agriculture, it was doomed since 1993. The banana industry has been dead since Bill Clinton came on the scene and took up the cause he was paid to do. He made the case for Caribbean countries and other ACP countries to compete on the world stage. Let’s face it, we are in no shape or form to compete with the larger South and Central American countries, where labour tends to be cheap. Prices have fallen primarily due to the access which the U.S companies has gained in the EU market. Even if St. Lucia states a record growth in exportation, it is not even close to where it was 20 years ago. No government is to be blamed, but we can blame them for not fostering other ventures.

      • Stupes
        December 10, 2014

        Are you listening to yourself? They are not where they are 20 years ago but at least they are somewhere???? OMG where do you guy come from?

      • REAL!!!!
        December 10, 2014

        Dominican Lover…..Your excuse does not make sense because St.Lucia was also affected by all the things you mentioned. Therefore how do you explain St.Lucia can now export 5000 tons in 2014 and Dominica cannot even get close to these numbers.

        What you should have done is call a spade a spade and then request that we make changes.

        If we keep finding excuses we will not do anything about it .

  20. WISER NOW
    December 10, 2014

    ah huh but agriculture cannot thrive in dominica according to the dominica labor/voler party lawdd fix it

  21. Truth be Told
    December 10, 2014

    The islands who can remake their banana industry into lean, mean, competitive machines will be greatly rewarded, so go on St Lucia, your recovery is complete! In St Lucia farmers ka twavay!

  22. Thor
    December 10, 2014

    Forget about Dominica as it relates to bananas. Soon we will be importing bananas from Latin America.

  23. December 10, 2014

    Why are we so naive. the downright low mentality is tearing us. The red and blue cancer that exist within us radiation or chemo cannot send it in remission! Planters have abandoned the agricultural industry for the 6 months of tourist industry.How can we blame anybody? St. Lucia also have politics.

    • WISER NOW
      December 10, 2014

      Oh please it it obvious that you are the red cancer. Dominican farmers are the most independent hardworking people I don’t know whoever informed you that the abandon their farms for six months of the tourist season but the fact remains that agriculture has been crippled under this red regime but anyways labour ka twavay

    • farmer
      December 10, 2014

      Because the Minister said they will not put money into a “Has been Industry”. Where the heck do you live? Diaspora?

  24. Nevevson st jean
    December 10, 2014

    Our people still vote for a govt that has abandoned agriculture .And the pm travels overseas to beg again

    • The Facts
      December 11, 2014

      When you pay enough income tax, probably these matters will be better and the PM will not have to travel overseas to beg again for you. :twisted: :mrgreen: :twisted: :mrgreen:

  25. The One
    December 10, 2014

    When will we learn? Why don’t we just copy from our neighbors if they are doing something good? We are really lacking in leadership……. As Dr. Lennox Honychurch said in his election review on “cutting edge of business” last night. The person selected to be minister of Agriculture has his work cut out for him. Let us see if this government can settle down, and forget about “political benefits” and the next election and get Dominicans back to work in Agriculture. Organize marketing for the many farmers who only have 2 – 5 acres of lands to farm. Get DEXIA to explore markets, get farmers to understand what is contract farming…… Come on you dem fellars…… make this country grow……

  26. coyote
    December 10, 2014

    In the mean time Dominica lags behind.well,well,well!!!!

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