KINGSTON, Jamaica, (JIS) – The Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA) aims to plant millions of coffee and cocoa plants to provide consistent supplies for the sector.

JACRA is the regulatory body responsible for coconut, cocoa, coffee, ginger, nutmeg, pimento, and turmeric and is empowered by the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority Act (2017).

Acting director general at JACRA, Wayne Hunter, told JIS News that the last significant planting for coffee was in the 1960s and the last massive replanting for cocoa was in the 1980s.

“Our intention is that we will plant out approximately two million new plants over a four-year period for coffee, then when we look at cocoa, we intend to treat with planted grafting materials to have about one million new trees for the industry. This would take us significantly down the stream where we need to go towards sustainability,” he said.

Hunter was speaking at a recent JIS Think Tank, held at the Agency's Television Department, 5-9 South Odeon Avenue in Kingston. Hunter said Jamaica has prized commodities that must be carefully sustained to meet demand.

“All seven of our commodities are internationally and locally sought after. We do not have the supply on hand and that's why we are moving forward to ensure that supplies meet demand. When we look at the future for all our commodities, we're starting a seed today that it germinates tomorrow and that the next day after it will come into production,” he argued.

Hunter also noted that JACRA is looking to explore new markets served by the seven commodities.

“We currently have 70 percent of our coffee shipped to Japan, 20 percent to the US market and 10 percent to other countries. What we're saying is look forward for two things. One, diversification of markets; so, we're looking for new markets and two, we want to be able to say to our partners that we do have the supplies that you require here,” he added.“Now, let me make it clear. JACRA does not take part in any way possible in commercial activities; therefore, we do not set pricing. The pricing in the market has to do with buyer and seller. So, we want to make that explicitly clear. We do not set prices in the marke.”

Meanwhile, JACRA is encouraging persons to invest in the seven commodities to secure consistent development.

With the authority's aim of developing the sector and the capital-intensive nature of the undertaking, boosting the productivity of the seven commodities will require a multi-stakeholder approach.

“We do have a programme that we are about to roll out that would treat with the development of these commodities... that is currently before the ministry of finance and the public service.

Outside of government putting capital into the development of it, we also require public-private partnership, and that requires investment from our private sector to invest in these commodities,” Hunter said.

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