Sweet yam production increasing in Trelawny
The Rural
Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is reporting a steady recovery in
sweet yam production in Trelawny.
Speaking at
the recent monthly meeting of the Trelawny Municipal Corporation, RADA Parish
Manager Courtney Taylor said sweet yam production had declined in recent years
due to the anthracnose fungus, which affects many plants, including vegetables,
fruits, and trees. It also attacks developing shoots and expanding leaves and
can spread rapidly during the rainy season.
Taylor said,
however, that as a result of interventions under the Ministry of Industry,
Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries’ (MICAF) Production and Productivity Programme,
“we are seeing some improvements as it relates to [sweet yam] crop care”.
“A lot of farmers, especially those who basically were out of production, are now [interested] in getting back into production because of what they are seeing,” he said.
Taylor said
that with ongoing interventions, full-scale sweet yam production in Trelawny is
expected in the next two years.