Rayon Dyer, Gleaner Writer
BLACK RIVER, St. Elizabeth:
FARMERS OF fresh fruits and vegetables in southern St. Elizabeth now have to be spending between $5,000 and $10,000 per load for water to save their crops as the effects of the drought affecting the area begin to take toll.
In an interview with Farmers Weekly on Monday, Marcel Ebanks, a farmer of Flagaman said the drought situation was seriously affecting crops in the community. Those being affected the most he said were tomato, water melon, cabbage, carrots, thyme, scallion, cantaloupe and cucumber.
"We have to be buying water from the Rapid Response Unit at between $5,000 and $10,000 per truck load to keep the farms alive," Mr. Ebanks said.
DROUGHT SITUATION
Seymour Simpson, a spokesman for the Southern St. Elizabeth Farmers' Group said, "This period is not new to us as farmers and that's why we urge the farmers that when they are investing, to take these things into consideration." He added that "drought is one of the things that we will experience from time to time in the area."
Among the areas that are currently being affected by the drought are: Cross Road, Little Park, Malvern, Round Hill, Big Woods, Claremont Park and Southfield.
