Thieves targeting banana farmers
published: Friday | November 14, 2003

LINSTEAD, St. Catherine:

BANANA GROWERS and other farmers in North East St. Catherine have complained to the Ministry of Agriculture as well as the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) that they are being plundered by praedial thieves.

At a farmers meeting held November 8, the farmers said even young trees are being cut down. They said they have complained to the police repeatedly but to no avail. One cultivator, Vincent Lawson, said he has been farming for the last 40 years and can think of no other way of earning a living. He says he depends on agriculture to educate his children.

The farmers also strongly criticised the Government, Members of Parliament, parish councillors, and the police for not putting in place the promised agricultural wardens.