Outgoing Chairman of the Grenada Cocoa Association (GCA), Dr. Reginald Buckmire says the industry suffered a severe financial blow as a result of the passages of hurricanes Ivan last September and Emily in July.

Dr. Buckmire disclosed that the damage from hurricane Ivan is worth EC $8.2 million while Emily was put at EC$2.6 million. The outgoing GCA Chairman was speaking at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association held last Friday at Bain's Hall in St. Andrew.

In giving a break down of the expenses caused by the hurricanes, Buckmire said that damage to buildings is worth EC$1,600,000.00, Cocoa Farms $1,900,000.00, Export Income $4,000,000.00, Propagation $500,000.00 and Agents $200,000.00.

Dr. Buckmire is calling for a well managed programme to address the crisis facing the industry especially in the parishes of St. Andrew and St. Patrick that were severely affected and are the most significant cocoa growing regions on the island.
He stated that the ravaging effects of Ivan not only nullified cocoa production and sales but that the industry also suffered a 60% loss of tree stock that will have implications on future income.

The outgoing Chairman noted that there are 7,500 active cocoa farmers with an average of three householders and so the economic and social losses are much higher.

He disclosed that despite the destruction done to the cocoa Propagation System, between 3-4000 cocoa plants were available for distribution in July with more to be made available as the rainy season progresses.

Buckmire pointed out that repairs to propagation facilities will be another main task of the GCA that will require replacement of sheds, saran netting and the rebuilding of storage facilities. Facilities for renovation include Mt. Horne Fermentery Complex, St. David's Fermentery and the Diamond Fermentery in St. Mark.

According to the GCA Chairman, if the association is to survive over the next few years then it must get involved in value added products. He spoke of the association having meetings during the past year with two companies, one from the US and the other from the UK that are interested in negotiating joint venture relationships.

As part of the recovery efforts, GCNA was the recipient of 6000 bags of fertiliser from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). It also received approximately EC $103,000.00 from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for its land clearing project.

During Friday's meeting, the outgoing members of the Board of Directors comprising Samuel Joseph, Ramsey Rush, Patrick Bernard, A.B.T Charles, Franklyn Samil and Dr. Buckmire were re-elected to serve for another term.

Government is expected to nominate two persons to represent it on the Board while a Chairman will be selected during the first meeting of all board members.