This year’s local potato crop will be cut in half following the late arrival of seedlings, it has been claimed. The Bermuda Farmers Association said that a “flawed” permit process and government red tape resulted in seeds not arriving on the island until December.
As a result, many farmers ditched plans to plant the vegetable, saying it was too late in the year for the crop to flourish. The BFA added that this year’s strawberry harvest will be delayed because of late planting.
Announcing the arrival of the seeds last December, Walter Roban, the Minister of Home Affairs, dismissed fears that seeds would not be available were unfounded. At a press conference, he said: “Recently, several commercial farmers publicly announced their concerns that Bermuda would not be getting seed potatoes or strawberry seedlings for growing next year’s crop.
“I am happy to remove these fears and share with the people of Bermuda that after meeting all the phytosanitary requirements needed to ensure the ongoing good health of the island’s environment, both the seed potato and strawberry shipments have arrived on the island.”
The BFA has rejected these reassurances.
Source: royalgazette.com
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