Jamaica to Reduce Fruit Imports

Kingston, Oct 22. -Jamaica has predicted a reduction in fruit imports, as a result of an extensive planting program, which also aims to fight deforestation and create jobs, reported the Ministry of Agriculture.According to the institution, the plan, which will begin next January, consists of planting some 50,000 fruit trees, as well as spices such as ginger, turmeric and hot pepper.

The program will also include a new system to regulate food imports, said Agriculture Minister Robert Montague.

Along with Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Jamaica has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the Caribbean, due to centuries of colonial exploitation, according to statistics from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The region currently has a deforestation rate of 41,000 hectares every year year. (Prensa Latina)