Quick crops and short-term crops can start maturing again late December/early January. - FileCONSUMERS ARE shelling out big bucks at markets as prices for some ground provisions and vegetables have been skyrocketing following the recent flood rains caused by tropical storms Isidore and Lili.
According to one agriculture official, Jamaicans may have to keep paying higher than normal prices until the end of the year.
"The rains did substantial damage and its effects will continue for the remainder of the year, particularly for the vegetables," explained Harold Spaulding, director of projects at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA).
"We should be getting things in the ground now. The soil has been drying out to the extent that we can plant, and quick crops and short-term crops can start maturing again late December /early January so once they start, the prices will go back down, unless we get another bout of flood rains," he said.
Prices gathered at the Coronation Market in West Kingston as well as the Christiana, Manchester, and Papine, St. Andrew, markets showed that prices have increased by more than 100 per cent in some cases. Some vendors were also "twinning" some products.
Among the most expensive items are escallion which is now going for $300 per pound or $50 per tie (small bundle). It is now $80 per pound for tomatoes, oranges are going for between $120 and $140 per dozen and $30 and $40 per pound are the asking prices for potatoes and pumpkin.
"They raise them. They cost more. Tomatoes are now like $60. Saturday is like $60 because you know the rain was falling and there wasn't any. It varies - $30, $40. Sometimes it goes down as low as $20. It depends on the amount on the market. You can get a pound of cabbage for $20. Sometimes it's $30. In Christiana, escallion is about $100. It dear so mi no buy it," a teacher explained yesterday.
"For the past two Sundays I have been cooking my rice and peas without escallion," one housewife told The Gleaner. "What I've done is to use a bit more thyme and then cut up an onion when I'm seasoning the pot," she explained.
A male vendor pointed out that the price had gone up because "we can't get it". Gesturing to meagre escallion and small and barely turned tomatoes, he lamented that "de rain mash up everything".
In the meantime, RADA is promising that the first of the estimated 5,000 farmers, who the authority hopes to help, will be receiving some aid within the next 14 days. The total damage to livestock and crops is still being tabulated but, so far, estimates have gone beyond the $200 million mark, Mr. Spaulding said.
"The farmers always get help from RADA. They got help in May/June (after those flood rains) and they will be receiving further assistance in terms of vegetable seeds, fertilisers and some amount of chickens and chicken feed," he said.
The Government earlier this month allocated $250 million to handle emergency repairs and recovery work in all affected sectors. About $130 million went to the NWA to clear roads and create access to communities which have been cut off. About $15 million each was allotted to Water and Housing and Labour and Social Security ministries. About $37 million went to Local Government and $10 million was allocated to help with restorations in the health and agricultural sectors respectively.
