Last night, we showed you how Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow insisted that carrots are rotting in the fields of the farmers from the Orange Walk Village of San Carlos. He was following up on Agriculture Minister Jose Mai's declaration last week that no such thing was happening and that it was all political mischief.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise has responded by providing an overhead view of the carrot production countrywide. They say that carrot farmers are on track to produce enough carrots to supply the local market for up to 10 months. Up until 2020, farmers could only supply the local market with carrots for six months.
In a press release sent today, the Ministry says that 2.12 million pounds of carrots have been produced across the country on 206.5 acres in the ten months. The Ministry is applauding the farming communities of Concepcion, Cristo Rey, Patchackan, and Xaibe in Corozal; San Carlos and Indian Church in Orange Walk; La Gracia, Seven Miles and San Antonio in Cayo; and Roseville in Stann Creek. All of these communities are contributing to the milestone.
The Agriculture Ministry then goes on to insist that there is no massive oversupply of carrots at this time. They say there has been a shift in supply from the rest of the country to San Carlos and Concepcion. They also note that it is normal to have between 3% and 5% of losses in carrots in the field.
The Ministry also says quote, "The fact that the on-farm wholesale carrot prices have edged up in the last week or two from 35 to 40 cents per pound to between 50 to 60 cents per pound is evidence that there is no massive oversupply as is being claimed in some circles. Retail prices at the markets countrywide remain at around $1.50 per pound." End quote.
The Ministry also adds that they have not issued any new import permits for carrots.
