George Henry, Gleaner Writer

Spaldings, Clarendon:

Farming is not an easy task, but the rising cost of fertiliser in recent weeks is putting more strain on farmers who have to contend with increasing production costs as a result.

Bertram Facey, a farmer from Sanguinetti, Clarendon, complained to Farmers Weekly that the recent $200 increase per bag for high power fertiliser and $500 per bag increase has not only put a dent in his pocket, but could cause him to cut back on production.

"I don't know what we as small farmers are going to do. We cannot afford to purchase the fertiliser any more. The price is too high man," he complained. According to him, the price for 'high power' fertiliser has been increased from $1,400 to $1,600 and from $800 to $1,300 for sulphate-based fertiliser.

Mr. Facey, who has been in farming for over three decades, said he spent thousands of dollars last year to establish his yam farm, a significant amount of which, he said, went to purchasing fertiliser.

Low price for yam

But what concerns him most is the low price being paid for yam. He contended that exporters were paying between $15 and $20 per pound for the tuber. Mr. Facey said it was not feasible to continue selling the produce at that price.

As for Calbert Sinclair and Isaac Cohen who produce similar crops, the price of fertiliser is out of their reach and they too will be forced to cut back on production.

Mr. Sinclair, who grows yams at his farm in Nine Miles, Clarendon, said he has refused to sell the produce for the low price being offered.

Mr. Cohen noted that the increased fertiliser costs could cause a shortage of yam next crop as farmers contemplate cutting back on production to cushion the effects of the spike in production costs.