ST GEORGE’S, Grenada: The banana industry in Grenada will experience some turbulent times during the next nine months, due to the damage sustained at the banana field on the River Antoine Estate. Hurricane Emily with her 90mph winds battered and crippled the crops that were ready to be harvested after much work and energy endured after the passage of Hurricane Ivan. General Manager of Estate Mr Bertrand John told Caribbean Net News that the damage sustained this time around is significant and this is a halt for banana production. With most of the trees being flattened and stocks bent, another export of bananas from Grenada will take another nine months. Mr. John said, the next move for the estate is to harvest the remaining bananas that were toppled, to supply the Marketing and National Importing Board for the next few weeks. After this process the estate workers will then engage in rehabilitating the fields. Bananas will now be produced at a reduced rate, therefore importing from St Vincent is the only alternative. Meantime Minister for Agriculture toured several farms in St. Andrew including the River Antoine Estate, where preliminary reports indicate that 90% of the bananas planted after Hurricane Ivan have been destroyed. Many of these bananas were already being harvested for the local market and have been lost as a result of Hurricane Emily. Minister Bowen on seeing the level of devastation reiterated Government's commitment to the continued resuscitation of the industry. The Minister said, "In September 2004 after we had Hurricane Ivan, we implemented our emergency programme to resuscitate the agricultural sector. Just when we are realizing the results of all the hard work put in by the farmers, farm workers and the Ministry, 10 months later, we face another major set back, this time from Hurricane Emily. We can see here that 90% of the banana crop at River Antoine estate is lost. Most of these banana plants were carrying bunches." The agriculture minister noted that Grenada was just at the point where there was no need to import bananas anymore. However, he noted that Hurricane Emily came along and wiped out any hope of being self-sufficient. Reprinted from Caribbean Net News caribbeannetnews.com