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For the first time in the past 10 years, Jamaicans are now buying locally produced sugar, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

In a release yesterday, the agriculture ministry said the island's sugar needs were previously met largely by wide-scale importation.

"Data from the Sugar Industry Authority revealed that sugar imports were up to a high of 70,000 tonnes of the refined sweetener annually and approximately 60,000 tonnes of raw product within the 2005-2009 period," the release stated.

Flexibility to choose

"Given the fact that the country no longer has a quota obligation with Europe and now has the flexibility to choose what markets are supplied, this has resulted in the decision to make more of our locally produced sugar available to the domestic market."

The ministry said that, in addition, reserves were boosted with Frome commencing operation on December 4. As a result, some 3,810 tonnes of the commodity were produced. Consequently, 2,200 tonnes or 43,280 bags of sugar were packaged for the trade. As such, the island saved US$32 million in foreign exchange which, in previous years, would be spent on importation of the item.

Meanwhile, the ministry said the injection of capital into the subsector by Eridania continues to bear fruit as some 4,520 individuals have been employed directly or indirectly at the Frome, Monymusk and Bernard Lodge factories for the 2009-2010 crop year.

"Additionally, the many hundreds of farmers who supply canes to these factories have been assured that their harvest will be processed," the ministry said.