Avellon Williams
CASTRIES, ANTIGUA – The government of St Lucia is optimistic following talks held with an established buyer on the possibility of using Antigua as a distribution hub for selling bananas to surrounding countries in the region.
Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development Minister, Alfred Prospere said, “Currently, we are moving between 2000 and 2500 (boxes) per week. But we have asked for the possibility of increasing it to 8000 because we believe the opportunity exists for additional distribution to Antigua, St Kitts, St Thomas, and St Maarten,”
Having led a delegation to a number of banana markets in the past year, Minister Prospere has landed a new market in Antigua with 460 boxes arriving there last month after the most recent research effort by Export St. Lucia and the National Fair-TradeOrganization (NFTO).
Minister Prospere applauded St. Lucia’s farmers because the quality of the fruit exported was encouraging. He added that “Antigua has expressed interest in importing high-quality bananas, as we have been doing for export to the United Kingdom.”
“We need now to ensure that we work toward maintaining and improving that quality so that bananas can continue to be exported to the UK and other countries in the region,” Prospere said.
Due to the high level of interest displayed in Antigua, he said he is encouraged by the feedback he received from the “established buyer”.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, its focus remains on securing existing banana markets and expanding into international and regional markets, and encouraging farmers to ensure that the quality of their bananas is always a priority.
