NFTO EXPRESSES INABILITY TO ABSORB COST OF QUALITY CLAIMS INCURRED FROM FRUITS SHIPPED TO THE UK.
Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Alfred Prospere, has vowed to fulfill his commitment to the farming community by ensuring that the National Fair Trade Organization receives the assistance it needs to better serve the needs of the banana industry.
Bananas remain the main export commodity in Saint Lucia and contributes significantly to foreign exchange. With a thrust toward improving the productivity and quality of banana production in order to secure 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, highlighted the NFTO’s inability to continue to absorb the cost of quality claims incurred due to substandard fruits being shipped to the United Kingdom and then discarded.
“What it means for us is that our growers must be more honest. A small scar, the wrong clipping of the crown, or any little defect [can have bigger implications]. Everyone involved in producing the fruit must understand the technicalities.”
Minister Prospere said the UK-based shipping line, Geest, will continue to foster banana trade links between Saint Lucia and the United Kingdom.
“We are also concerned that it takes a minimum of 21 days for our bananas to get to the UK from Saint Lucia. We have expressed concerns to Geest about reducing the length of time it takes.”
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.
