THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE is to increase local cherry production by a full 100 acres and special emphasis will now be placed on growing of mangoes, limes and grapefruits.
Minister of Agriculture Dr. Richard Cheltenhem said yesterday morning: “My ministry has pioneered the planting of over 20 acres of cherries on lands of the Barbados Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) at Haggatt’s St Andrew.
“These orchards, when fully rehabilitated, will provide a selection of heavy bearing and high flavour clones, rich in vitamin C from hic additional planting material will be taken.
“Cherries grown in Barbados are in great demand, since markets in the United States of America and Japan have not only been identified, but shipments have already been made to them. We have recently decided to put an additional 100 acres in cherries.”
Dr. Cheltenham added: “With the assistance of the European Development Fund (EDF), limes and mangoes have been planted in the Black River of the Scotland District, while a pineapple nursery has been added in the East River area. Once reliable sources of water have been established, the growing of cherries, mangoes, limes and grapefruits will be extended to the Lower Black River, Bruce Vale and Haggatts areas.”
The seminar/show is sponsored and organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Inter-American Institute for Corporation on Agriculture (IICA).
