CHRISTMAS IS SHAPING up to be a merry one for local farmers.
James Paul, chief executive officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), told the DAILY NATION that some farmers who were formerly out of production were back in business, while fruit and vegetable sales were also doing well. Livestock rearing had also increased.
Stating it was too early to compare with last year, he reported that Christmas “is looking quite [good].”
“I have not heard any reports from farmers that they cannot get rid of their produce, so things are looking very good and I would assume that as we get closer into the season that things will be really good,” he added.
Paul was speaking just before the start of an open day at the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) yesterday morning, held at its local office in Graeme Hall, Christ Church. The BAS head also revealed that poultry and egg sales were doing well, with the first-time possibility of “a glut of eggs”.
Paul attributed the increase in production and farmers to a reduction of feed costs, adding: “Depending on the feed category [the reduction] was quite sizeable and I think it would encourage more farmers to stay in the industry.”
However, the increase in agricultural production may not result in a decrease in prices.
“The challenge is that the farmers will also tell you that they are seeing an increase in costs,” James said. “If we go to fruit and vegetable production, for example, there are certain inputs like fertilizers and chemicals that the farmers use and they have actually doubled or tripled the price than what they used to be and that is an issue we have to address in the farming sector.”
He believed the BAS could help by sourcing products for farmers. (LW)
