Preliminary data from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) indicates that the country's food import bill declined by $5.014 billion (US$43.6 million) last year, representing a 4.5 per cent reduction over the corresponding period in 2013.

This represents the largest decline recorded since 2009, according to agriculture, labour and social security minister, Derrick Kellier.

He made the disclosure during his 2015-16 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives, on April 21, under the theme: 'Making Jamaica's Agriculture Sustainable'.

Noting that the decline recorded in 2014 was "no mean achievement", Kellier attributed this to the Government's "deliberate efforts" to increase food production through the agro-parks initiative.

The minister said production grew by 15.2 per cent over the first half of 2014, and, despite intensified drought during the latter six months, "the sector only declined by 0.4 per cent".

Minister Kellier noted that some crops recorded increased yields, despite the sector's very marginal decline.

These included Irish potato, up 12.4 per cent, which, he said, enabled Jamaica to achieve "national self-sufficiency" of more than 90 per cent in the provision of table potatoes; banana and plantain, up 41.7 per cent and 30.8 per cent, respectively; scallion, up 48.7 per cent, which Kellier said was "heavily influenced" by production in the agro-parks, and linkages with agro-processing; and ginger, which, he said, increased by 8.6 per cent, "despite some challenges with the re-emerging rhizome rot disease".

Additionally, Kellier said poultry production increased by 8.7 per cent and sugar cane, 26.8 per cent.

The Minister pointed out there was a 7.3 per cent increase in sugar exports during 2014. "Thanks to the agro-park's exports of non-traditional crops ( that also) held their own, despite the drought," Kellier said

Great challenge and success

Noting that 2014 was "a year of tremendous challenge", resulting in the sector experiencing the worst drought recorded in decades, Kellier said it was, nonetheless, a year of "tremendous opportunity and success".