Leslie McLean, Freelance Writer
ST. ANN has recorded a steep decline in domestic agricultural production in the first quarter of this year in comparison to the corresponding period for last year.
Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Parish Manager for St. Ann Vivian Kildare told The Sunday Gleaner last week that production had declined by 17 per cent in 1999, but for the first quarter this year it declined by 37.04 per cent - moving from 13,834 tonnes in 1999 to 8,710 tonnes in 2000).
A similar decline - 33.12 per cent - was recorded in acreage (hectares) reaped, moving from 1,123 hectares in 1999 to 751 hectares in 2000.
Mr. Kildare attributed the decline to a severe drought condition which started in the parish in November 1999 and continued in April 2000, causing agricultural production to nose-dive. There were, however, increases in production from April to December 1999, he added.
Mr. Kildare disclosed that some farmers had started to re-establish large acreage in pumpkins, sweet potatoes, peppers, cabbages and string beans and RADA had assisted some farmers groups with vegetable seeds and fertilizer, under the Social and Economic Support Programme of the Members of Parliament.
He revealed that the Domestic Food Crop project had also been implemented in the parish recently, with an allocation of $1.2 million.
The RADA manager added that the Ministry of Agriculture was expected to provide assistance for some 400 to 500 farmers in the parish who had suffered during the drought. This should result in increased production in the ensuing quarters, he said, as improved weather conditions were being experienced.
