Farmers argue that not only would the price of transporting produce be cheaper if there were better roads but they could also put idle land into production of export crops. They claim that transport operators increase the price of transportation to cover damage done to vehicles on bad roads. Many small sugarcane farmer witness the decay of their uncollected crops along the roadside year after year because of poor roads. Some exporters will not travel to certain areas to purchase produce because of poor roads. Despite the many problems which arise from the cost of production, spoilage and rejection, and uncompetitive farm gate prices, small farmers continue to produce these crops because the markets are stable.
Guaranteed markets are more important to the farmers than high prices.
The lack of access to marketing information has led to imbalances in distribution and spoilage in the fields. In July - August 1996 hundreds of kilograms of pineapple, melon, pumpkin and dasheen were witnessed by the author rotting in the fields and along the roadside in the Great River Watershed area. The RADA extension officer who has worked for 6 years in the area explained that this problem occurs almost every year. The present rural road network in Jamaica is quite extensive and well developed. The problem lies with the condition of the roads.