THE opposition United Workers Party (UWP) has raised concerns about alleged food shortages in the agricultural sector, claiming these shortages are jeopardizing the nutritional needs of the citizens.
In a recent online post, the UWP asserted that Saint Lucia’s 17% contraction in agriculture poses a direct threat to farmers’ livelihoods and overall food security for citizens. They argue that diminished crop production and income are further straining local communities already grappling with economic hardships.
In response, Eustace Monrose, Chair of the National Fair-Trade Organization (NFTO), issued a decisive statement to dispel these unwarranted fears.
Monrose emphasised that, despite facing challenges, bananas remain a significant export crop within the agricultural sector. He pointed out that last year, Tropical Storm Brett caused substantial damage in Saint Lucia, even though it did not escalate to hurricane status.
Brett brought near hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall on June 22, leading to widespread devastation. He noted that the storm resulted in over 75% destruction of the island’s banana crop.
Additionally, Tropical Storm Filipe had impacted certain regions in Saint Lucia later that year, causing flooding in the northern areas.
“The reality is that the entire banana crop was obliterated,” Monrose stated emphatically. “This destruction resulted in a 17% drop in agricultural product exports.”
However, Monrose firmly asserted that this decline does not equate to a failure in agriculture. “This downturn was solely due to the damage inflicted by the storms. It took time for us to recover from such severe losses,” he said.
Monrose recalled that the banana crop, which is Saint Lucia’s primary agricultural export, was also adversely affected by Tropical Storm Beryl in July 2020.
“There’s absolutely no reason to conclude that agricultural exports fell drastically without justification. The 17% decline has a clear and valid cause,” Monrose explained.
He stated unequivocally that it is “incorrect” to claim that “agriculture performed poorly.”
Monrose reinforced his point: “Our tree crops have thrived.” He cited impressive figures provided by Massey Stores, which reflect record supplies of agricultural produce from local farmers.
“This 17% is simply an illustration of the devastation to the banana industry due to the impacts of Tropical Storm Beryl in 2024 and Tropical Storm Brett in 2023,” he asserted.
Moreover, in a recent online post, Export Saint Lucia (ESL) noted: “These past few months have been groundbreaking for our exporters, marking another significant milestone. We are proud to have facilitated the National Fair-Trade Organization’s inaugural shipment of premium Saint Lucian bananas to Canada (in October).”