The Ministry of Agriculture is aiming to bring the Black Sigatoka disease under control and stabilize banana production.

Saint Lucia's banana industry is currently recovering following several natural disasters over the last decade. Aside from gale force winds and flooding, Black Sigatoka has riddled Saint Lucia’s banana industry.

Martin Satney, Project Coordinator of the Black Sigatoka Management Unit, announced that the first phase of the Black Sigotak project ended in 2013 and the second phase ended in 2015.

"We have indeed made significant progress as it relates to managing the production limiting factors ̶  managing the Black Sigatoka disease. We can boast right now that within the Windward Islands, Saint Lucia is the only country that is exporting bananas to the UK. Indeed you are seeing our regional exports are even increasing, probably even surpassing in some instances, the UK exports."

Satney said recovery mode for the banana industry is in full effect.

"The major challenge now is enhancing the productivity and dealing with other production issues. That calls for a different dialogue as it relates with the farmers.  There are issues related to credit facilitation, capacity building, infrastructure development, production planning and so on. These are some of the areas that we have now to focus on. Also, we need to focus on existing and emerging challenges and threats such as the Panama Disease,  the strain TR4 which is a major issue."  Satney said officials hope to work more closely with the Research and Development Unit to ensure that disease threats do not breech the island’s shores.

The Black Sigatoka Management Unit was implemented in 2012.