SPALDINGS, Clarendon:
GINGER FARMERS in North West Clarendon are about to get assistance after four years of lobbying.
Two hundred thousand dollars has been allocated to assist them, according to Minister of Agriculture Roger Clarke. He was addressing farmers recently at Sodom/Lower Moravia.
Mr. Clarke said that the money, which will be used for establishing ginger demonstration nurseries, will be directed through the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA).
He warned ginger farmers not to sell materials which will be given to them for planting until the nurseries have been fully established. He noted that some farmers have a tendency to sell the crop when it is green, but that they should give the crops sufficient time to properly mature.
Ginger farmers in North West Clarendon, particularly in areas such as Silent Hill, Moravia, Santa Hill and adjoining communities, lost most of their crops to a mysterious disease which caused the condiment to rot in the field before they were able to reap.
The disease, which resulted in a decline in ginger production over the past five years, was also a major concern for the Member of Parliament for the constituency, Clifton Stone, who wrote to the Minister of Agriculture requesting that a team from his Ministry be sent to the communities to investigate the cause of the disease.
