“We estimate that a vertically integrated west Indian sea Island Cotton
Industry supported by 5,000 acres of cotton production when fully implemented
will provide employment for over 2,000 persons full-time; 15,000 on a seasonal
basis and generate income in excess of US$800 million per year in foreign
exchange,”
JADF (Jamaica Agricultural
Development Foundation) CEO Vitus Evans CEO at his address at a Wednesday press
conference at JEA’s Kingston headquarters to announce the pilot Japanese Sea
Island Cotton project
Yes, the Japanese are into more than just Rare Earth Metals from Bauxite
as noted in my blog
article entitled “No
news on progress of the Rare Earth Pilot Plant at JBI - Cuba-Jamaica CFL
Project Heralds manufacturing of LED's, Li-Ion Batteries and Sapphire Screens
in Jamaica”.
The signing of the Grant Agreement took place at the offices of the JEA (Jamaica
Exporters’ Association) on Winchester Avenue in Kingston on Tuesday, February
18th, 2014. Of course, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Roger
Clarke was on hand for this historic occasion, which interestingly also
commemorated 50 years of our Diplomatic Relationship with the Government of
Japan.
Japan’s lust for
our fine Cotton to make high quality clothing is the reason for the demand as
according to Japanese Ambassador Yasuo Takese as summarized in “Japan
to pump funds into local Sea Island cotton production”, published Monday,
February 17, 2014 11:09 AM, The
Jamaica Observer.
Coincidentally, the Japanese Festival aka the Nihon Matsuri held at the
grounds of the Ranny Williams Entertainment Center started on Saturday March 8th
2014 as described in “Japan
Festival a big hit with Jamaicans”, published 9 MAR, 2014 by Kelroy Brown, Jamaipanese as celebrations are kicking
off in high gear in Jamaica to celebrate our love for all things Japanese.
West Indian Sea Island Cotton –
Fantastic Four join forces to grow to meet Japanese and Global Demand
Other countries such as Antigua, Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis also
cultivate West Indian Sea Island Cotton, but apparently due to their smaller
physical size, they can’t devote as much land space to large-scale cultivation.
Interestingly too, West Indian Sea Island Cotton can’t grow anywhere else.
It’s not only indigenous to Jamaica and the other four Caribbean Islands
but also attempts by others outside of the Caribbean to grow the same quality
Cotton have failed, as its quality is directly related to its geographic
location, just like Blue Mountain Coffee.
In fact, the very same Japanese, who are now handing us this JA$11
million (US$ 101,478.19), tried to take away our IP (Intellectual Property)
rights to the name and the product “West
Indian Sea Island Cotton” but failed as their own Intellectual Property High
Court of Japan ruled in our favour back in 2009 as stated in “Sea
Island Cotton property war with Japan settled”, Published Friday August 14,
2009, by Dionne Rose, Business Reporter, The
Jamaica Gleaner.
I guess this grant is there sincere way of saying they are sorry. Either
that, or like the current IP issues being face with Blue Mountain Coffee as
stated in “CIB
Overwhelmed By Blue Mountain Coffee Brand Piracy - US, China Seen As Top
Cheaters”, Published Friday November 1, 2013 by Tameka Gordon, Business
Reporter, The Jamaica Gleaner, the
demand for our West Indian Sea Island Cotton is outstripping supply despite
problems relating to Geographical Indicators and copyright.
West Indian Sea Island Cotton –
Numbers tell the tale of the Tape for White Gold
This puts Jamaica in a unique position to capitalize on what’s being
touted as the equivalent of White Gold as stated in “Jamaica
can earn US$800m from sea island cotton”, published Sunday, February 23,
2014, The Jamaica Observer and “WHITE GOLD
- Jamaica Looking To Earn Millions From Cotton”, Published Sunday February
23, 2014, The Jamaica Gleaner.
The stats tell a better story than I can:
1.
US$10 per Lb for West Indian Sea Island Cotton
2.
US$800 million ($85.6 billion) in potential
foreign exchange earnings
3.
6 million Pounds Global Demand for Cotton Lint
4.
60,000 Pounds currently being supplied by
Jamaica
5.
15,000 jobs that can be created by the Revival
of the West Indian Sea Island Cotton
The only other
brand of Cotton that compares to our hand-picked West Indian Sea Island Cotton
is Giza 45 that grows in Egypt. At US$10 per Lb, that’s a price that bests even
the price for Bamboo (bambusa vulgaris)
Charcoal as pointed out in my blog article entitled
“Jamaica's
Bamboo Charcoal exports stalled by lack of Bamboo Furnaces – How to build a
Fresnel Lens Solar Powered Bamboo Furnace and produce Activated Charcoal
byproduct”.
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