The 2008 Agricultural Digest - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural ...

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THE BARBADOSSUGAR INDUSTRYThe Barbados sugarcane harvest for 2007/2008was 310.7 thousand tonnes, reflecting adecrease of approximately 12 per cent from theprevious year’s sugarcane crop. The total areaharvested also registered a 6 per cent declinewhich is estimated at 5.9 thousand hectares ascompared with the 6.3 thousand hectaresharvested during the 2006/2007 season.The aforementioned decrease in the total amount of sugarcanedelivered to the Andrews and Portvale factories, impactednegatively on the country’s total sugar and molassesproduction.Sugar production was recorded at approximately 31.6thousand tonnes during the 2007/2008 season, a decrease by9 per cent from the 34.7 thousand tonnes estimated in theprevious season. Moreover, molasses production was recordedat an estimated 10.9 thousand tonnes, a decrease by 19 percent from the comparative figure of the previous season whichwas recorded at 13.5 thousand tonnes.Trade StatisticsNotwithstanding, exports also recorded significant declines overthe review period. Barbados shipped an estimated 27.7 thousandtonnes of raw sugar to the European Union (EU). This resultedin a 15 per cent decrease in raw sugar exports to the EuropeanUnion (EU), from the estimated 32.8 thousand tonnes shipped inthe 2006/2007 season (see Figure 1).However, Barbados benefited from the appreciating value of theEuro, in relation to the US dollar, to which the Barbadian currencyis pegged. The earnings from raw bulk sugar was thereforerecorded at approximately BDS $45.1 million. Despite theappreciating value of the Euro, the decline in the exported volumeof raw sugar resulted in the total export earning of the commoditydeclining by an estimated 3 per cent from the BDS$ 46.2 millionwhich was earned in the previous season.THE BARBADOS COTTON INDUSTRYThe commercial cotton crop planted during the 2007/2008 season was 111.69 hectares, a declineof 18.6 per cent from the 137.19 hectares planted in the previous season (see Table 1). The areaplanted by the Barbados Agricultural Management Company Ltd. (BAMC) accounted for 83.1 per centof the total commercial crop, while 16.7 per cent represented the production efforts of the privateestates. Only one small farmer expressed an interest in planting the crop during the season andplanted 0.2 hectares.Although the area planted in cotton decreased, the seedcotton received during the 2007/2008 season was estimatedat 79,895.96 kilogrammes, a 34% increase from the 59,526.3kilogrammes recorded in the previous season. This positivelyimpacted on the national lint production which was 26,040.01kilogrammes, a 36% increase from the 19,207.78 kilogrammesrecorded during the previous season.Table 1 - Cotton StatisticsImprovements in the cotton industry was largely attributedto the training which was provided by the extension staffof the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in pestscouting and identification. It was felt that the farmers and workerswho are engaged in cotton production should remainknowledgeable in these areas, as it will help them in makinggood pest management decisions.Item2006 | 2007Season2007 | 2008SeasonPercentageChange from2007 to 2008(%)Seed cottonreceived (kgs)59,526.3 79,895.96 34Lint produced kgs) 19,207.8 26,040.01 36Running bales 84 124 48Hectares planted 137.19 111.69 -18.6Source: Cotton Desk, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development16Agricultural Digest | 2008Volume 1
THE BARBADOSFOOD CROP SECTORVegetable CropsThe Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Developmentembarked on a new methodology for the calculationof food crop production during the year 2008.This methodology was guided by technical asistanceprovided by the Food and Agricultural Organisationof the United Nations (FAO).The Ministry’s survey is now designed towards capturing and generationof more timely statistics, with an additional feature of categorisingnational production into four categories, namely, the IrrigatedDistricts, Urban Corridor, Scotland District and Agricultural Areas.A preliminary analysis of the information captured to date for 2008indicates that there was a significant decline in food crop production(vegetables and root crops) from the previous year. However, somecaution must be expressed due to the change which was madein the methodology. On the other hand, the Ministry further notes thatagricultural import figures for 2008 for fresh vegetables and root cropsregistered increases of 4 per cent and 43 per cent respectively. Thismay provide some rationale for the decline in local vegetable and rootcrop production.LIVESTOCK& DAIRY SECTORSTotal livestock production in Barbados registered anestimated 26.1 million kilogrammes of fresh meatin 2008. The estimate had declined marginally by3.2 per cent from the total estimated 26.9 millionkilogrammes of fresh meat produced in 2007.Turkey and eggs were the main contributors to the decline in the totaloutput, as these commodities registered prodution decreases of 17.5 percent and 14.6 per cent respectively. Of special concern to the Ministrywas also production declines in pork (3.9 per cent), chicken (1.8 per cent)and milk (1 per cent). It must be noted that Veal, Mutton and Beef allregistered increases in production of 32.4 per cent, 17.6 per cent and 6.1per cent respectively.Volume 1Agricultural Digest | 200817
Page 2 and 3: Minister’s Foreword 1Editorial No
Page 4 and 5: EDITORIAL NOTEThe Agricultural Dige
Page 6 and 7: FEATURED COLUMNISTRommell Hippolyte
Page 8 and 9: Johnson (1997) suggested that throu
Page 10: Using time series cointegration, it
Page 15: VI. CONCLUSIONOver the past five de
Page 20 and 21: FISHERIES SECTORFisheries recorded
Page 22 and 23: RAINFALL IN 2008Total rainfall in B
Page 24 and 25: STATISTICAL APPENDIXTable 1: Produc
Page 26 and 27: STATISTICAL APPENDIXTable 3: Averag
Page 28 and 29: STATISTICAL APPENDIXTable 5: Total

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