CATEGORY: AGRICULTURE
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By Team Grenada

GRENVILLE, St. Andrew’s: Grenada is working diligently to increase its shipment of bananas to the twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The island’s banana industry is rebounding after being almost completely destroyed by two hurricanes: the first (Ivan) in September 2004 and the second (Emily) a mere ten months later in July 2005.

Historically, Grenada and Trinidad have always enjoyed good trading relations. Many of the agricultural products grown in Grenada find their way to Trinidad via “Traffickers” and are sold in Trinidadian markets and supermarkets.

According to Roderick St.Clair of Grenada’s Marketing and National Importing Board (MNIB), 600 cases of bananas were shipped to Trinidad last week and there are already orders for significant amounts to be sent to the twin island republic in the weeks ahead.

Grenada’s government has been assisting in the revival of the banana industry and only last week, some 200,000 tissue-culture banana plants were given out to banana farmers from the La Sagesse tissue-culture plant in St. David’s. The Government of Grenada has been looking at the possibility of penetrating new markets for its bananas for some time now. The Agriculture Minister, Hon. Gregory Bowen, has disclosed that the island is looking towards Turkey as a new market for the bananas produced on the island.

In recent times, many farmers in Grenada, especially the younger ones, have turned their backs on agriculture in favour of more rewarding activities, like construction. It is widely believed that if new markets are found for the export crops that Grenada produces, and the possibility of making some ‘serious money’ out of farming presents itself, there could once again be resurgence in agricultural activities in the country. This in turn can help alleviate the unemployment problem in the country and help stimulate local economic activities.





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