Tendai Franklyn-Brown, Staff Reporter

Amid skyrocketing commodities prices and a global food crisis, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) is warning Jamaica to cut its dependence on imported goods.

"We believe that Jamaica has to correct its heavy dependence on food imports and start consuming and producing more local food if the country is to maintain an acceptable level of food security over time," said a spokesman of IICA's Jamaica chapter.

A shortage of rice, grain, flour and other cereals on the world market has sent prices spiralling, causing widescale social consequences - from starvation in Indonesia to a burgeoning food black market in Egypt. Price hikes also triggered violent clashes on the streets of Haiti - which holds the ignominious reputation as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere - leading to the Senate booting Prime Minister Jacques Alexis nine days ago.

Many Jamaicans rely heavily on rice and flour to supply their diet. But rice prices have boiled over and the cost of bread has risen by more than 30 per cent in two months. Inflation running at 20 per cent hasn't helped either.

According to IICA, the materiali-sation of a food crisis would depend on the measures put in place to address domestic food production and supply.

Root crops

One day after former Finance Minister Omar Davies warned of possible unrest here resulting from price hikes, Agriculture Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, in his Budget presentation last week, suggested ramping up tuber production as critical to ensuring food security.

The minister trumpeted the value of root crops such as yam, sweet potato and especially cassava - a stance the IICA fully supports.

Tufton also mooted improving Jamaica's capability - considering its location risk in the Atlantic hurricane belt - to recover from adverse weather conditions.

Meanwhile, Lenworth Blake, president of the Jamaica Greenhouse Growers Association, said if greenhouse technology continues to expand, Jamaica would be able to significantly reduce food imports.

"We started last year with 11 members and at present we have 77, and it is growing," he said.

A greenhouse is an effective method of farming as cultivators have the comfort of improved crop security and greater yield potential.

"You are able to manage your plants better. There are fewer attacks from insects and fungus, and your output is a lot more," said Blake. "The same greenhouse will last for five to seven years and the crops we grow are indeterminate varieties - that means they bear for longer periods."

tendai.franklyn-brown@gleanerjm.com