As the nation continues to be faced with soaring food prices, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is contending that the country must produce more crops in an effort to tackle the situation and ensure food security.

This week, the cost of hard dough white bread jumped by some $20 as commercial baking flour increased by 28 per cent. Rice, Jamaica's main staple, has swelled by 30 per cent.

Chicken meat, the country's preferred choice of protein, is set to be increased by one supplier within a week.

Dr Dunstan Campbell, FAO representative in Jamaica, Belize and The Bahamas, said the organisation was working with the Government to address the problem, in the most appropriate manner, for Jamaica's particular situation.

Solution

"Definitely, there is a solution to rising food prices," said Campbell, "produce more food."

The Agricultural Census of Jamaica 1996 stated that only some 273,000 hectares are active, of 449,493 hectares of farmland in Jamaica.

He said the Caribbean could be at a competitive edge with regard to food if indigenous crops are explored.

"We cannot just give up. Produce more in the livestock sector and in the root crop sector, such as yams, Irish and sweet potatoes," said Campbell.

Dr Christopher Tufton, minister of agriculture, told The Gleaner that the Government was embarking on a major programme to encourage local food production.

Areas to be explored to generate production and increase outputs are enhancing greenhouse production and improving the irrigation system, Tufton said.