PIOJ Growth-Inducement Strategy - Planning Institute of Jamaica

2. Disbursements by the Jamaica Public Service Company Ltd. declined by 98.3 per
cent to reach $27.9 million.
3. Capital expenditure on construction projects by the National Works Agency
amounted to $276.0 million reflecting a fall in expenditure on the construction of
the Northern Jamaica Development Project (North Coast Highway).
4. The Urban Development Corporation disbursed a total of $2 019.2 compared with
$1 275.0 in the corresponding period of 2009.
Agriculture
For the period January - September 2010, real value added for Agriculture, Forestry &
Fishing grew by 2.9 per cent relative to the corresponding period of 2009. The growth in
the industry was driven by increased output in Traditional Export Crops and Other
Agricultural Crops. For the first half of the year, real value added for the sector grew by
1.7 per cent. The industry grew despite being severely affected by drought conditions
which began in the latter half of 2009 and continued through to May 2010. Following the
drought, the industry was impacted by Tropical Storm Nicole at the end of the third
quarter (September 26 – 30) which caused considerable losses. Losses to Domestic Crops
and Livestock were estimated at $576.5 million with a further $574.6 million damage to
agricultural roads.
Growth in the sector was influenced by the intensification of the Ministry of
Agriculture’s “Production and Productivity Programme” aimed at improving bestpractice
methodologies among selected groups of farmers engaged in the production of a
selected group of domestic crops. This programme encourages the production of the
selected crops in areas that are best suited, by farmers who are willing to be trained to
implement improved production practices. In addition, to mitigate the effects of the
drought, the Ministry of Agriculture encouraged the following strategies:
water conservation and improved irrigation efficiencies through the use of drip
systems supplemented by Black Tanks;
increased planting in areas served by irrigation schemes;
increased use of protective agriculture (greenhouse).
Wholesale & Retail Trade; Repair and Installation of Machinery
For the nine-month period, January-September 2010, real value added for the Wholesale
and Retail Trade; Repair and Installation of Machinery (WRTRIM) industry declined by
2.0 per cent compared with the corresponding period of 2009. The lower value added was
consistent with the adverse impact of the global crisis on consumers and distributors.
Within an environment of contracting output levels, relatively high levels of
unemployment 22 and uncertainty about future economic prospects, gross sales declined.
Consistent with this out-turn was a decline of 13.4 per cent and 7.2 per cent in the volume
and value of Automated Banking Machines (ABM) and Point of Sale (POS) transactions,
respectively. Additionally, the industry was adversely impacted by declines of 2.7 per
cent and 2.2 per cent in the Construction and Manufacture industries, respectively.
22 As at July 2010 the unemployment rate was 11.6 per cent relative to 11.3 per cent in July 2009.
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