Last Friday, we told you about reports we received from the Orange Walk Village of San Carlos.
Orfa Deodanes and Armando Hernandez, 2 farmers from the village, insisted to us that they and other farmers had major carrot fields under cultivation that they can't harvest. They said that they have no buyers to sell to. They suggested that approximately 800 to 1,000 sacks of carrots were at risk of rotting in the ground if they didn't get immediate aid and support.
About half-day before our story broadcast, we contacted Agriculture Minister Jose Mai for comment. He didn't respond to our request until Monday night, when he asserted that, according to the Agricultural Ministry's inquiries, there was no such crisis.
Here's what he told us today in a Zoom interview:
Jose Mai - Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, & Enterprise
"When I heard the report that a hundred sacks of carrots are being lost, I wondered because I was in San Carlos for 2 days last week with the farmers. And at no point did this matter come up. We have been monitoring closely the harvests, and the markets, We had intended to open the market to Salvador. As a matter of fact, El Salvador liked the carrots that we displayed to them when we were in Salvador. The problem with El Salvador is that they want large
amounts, and we would have the amounts that they want to consistently supply them. But, we have too much for our local consumption, so we're in that difficult position, which we are trying to work on. The marketing board is trying to work on that. The third thing is that we have to select quality. We can't just take any carrot to El Salvador and market it to them. Farmers have to understand the concept of grading and standards. So, that is where we are with that right now. So in regards to onions, Daniel, I know that the onion crop this year wasn't as good as last year. There are farmers who will do well, and others who did poorly. We had early disease, and it did affect a lot of the onions. So, we didn't have a large crop like last year. However, there are onions right now, in especially the Bomba area. San Carlos and Indian Church do not have many onions right now. The largest acreage right now is in Bomba and Maskall. I will confirm that with the extension officers. We do not have an onion problem right now, as I understand it. As a matter of fact, we are monitoring carefully because with the tourism sector now fully open, we have to try to supply these resorts constantly. But, we don't want to import if we don't have to. So, it is always a challenge when we try to monitor carefully the amount of product that is being planted, harvested, and marketed. That is where we are right now, but I do not know of carrots rotting in the fields. My technicians were asked to go out and give me a comprehensive report. The report hasn't come in as yet this morning, but from the preliminary report I got, there are no carrots rotting in the field. But, there is a slow movement of carrots because again, the over-supply, and we're trying to ensure that no contraband comes. We're trying to manage that well. I think so far, we've done well. I have been to the market personally, and I haven't seen Mexican carrots. I know Mexican carrots when I see them. So, I haven't seen Mexican carrots. I am told that San Pedro may have some because it goes through by sea."
