The People’s National Party (PNP) is calling on the Government to reconsider its decision to divest the Agricultural Marketing Corporation (A.M.C) complex.

The call follows an advisory from the Agro Investment Corporation (A.I.C.) indicating its intention to divest the A.M.C.

In a release issued yesterday, the Opposition PNP pointed out that post-harvest loss climbed to more than 40 per cent for some crops, an issue that the complex is vital to alleviating.

“The facilities within this complex have for decades supported the farmers of this country through inventory holding, both ambient and cold; sorting, grading, inspection and packaging of particularly export crops; and served as a distribution hub for farmers’ produce, supplying hotels, hospitals, and large wholesale outlets,” the PNP stated in the release.

The party further noted that Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining Floyd Green stated that amplifying export in the sector was a major initiative being undertaken by the Government, arguing that the divestment of the A.MC would be prove to be a setback because many farmers use the complex to export their produce.

Additionally, the party noted that yam production accounted for 25 per cent of Jamaica’s total non-traditional production in 2022. Yam export, through the A.M.C, also brought in US$34 million in 2022.

As such, the PNP is appealing for more agricultural complexes that offer appropriate storage, sorting, and grading facilities for farmers.

“We believe that this will stimulate agriculture production and remove the bad experiences of glut and scarcity; reduce excessive produce assembly costs; lower high wholesale and retail margins; and temper high seasonal and geographic variation in prices,” said the PNP.