Rayon Dyer, Gleaner Writer
THE AGRICULTURAL sector is again reeling from more than $200 million in damage from the recent heavy rains associated with Hurricane Wilma.
Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke said assessments carried out by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) estimated the damage to the sector to be $237 million, and suggested that it could be more as sections of the island, mainly the parishes of St. James, Trelawny and Portland have received more heavy rains since. He said there was widespread damage to vegetables and livestock in St. Elizabeth, Manchester, Clarendon, St. Catherine, St. James and Trelawny.
SHORTAGE OF PRODUCE
Already the damage from the heavy rains is causing a shortage of produce such as yam, banana, sweet potato and vegetables. There is indication that the shortage has forced an increase in the price of some produce in the markets.
According to St. Elizabeth-based vegetable farmer, Marcel Ebanks, the price for scallion, thyme, carrot, cabbage and watermelon will go up in the coming months because of the damage to these crops by the rain.
He explained that "this is not unusual because after every major disruption in the local agricultural sector, the situation of price increases and the scarcity of produce can be expected." Unfortunately, he said "the consumers are the ones who have to bear the brunt of the deal."
Delroy Daley, another farmer, noted that "most of the crops got a beating and most of the farmers ending up on the losing side. Some of the farmers lost up to four acres of produce which cost a lot of money to put in."
In the meantime, the president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Senator Norman Grant, is requesting that the Government assist affected farmers with seeds and fertilisers to facilitate the replanting of affected crops before the Christmas season.
