St Catherine farmers hit hard by drought

DROUGHT CONDITIONS in St. Catherine have caused over $11 million in damage to crops and cattle, and the figures could rise, says Pedro Worghs, Acting Parish Manager of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA).

Mr. Worghs said that based on data collected from 591 farmers in the Watermount, Old Harbour, Linstead, Spanish Town, Lluidas Vale and Riversdale areas of the parish, the total loss was $11,512,900.

Giving details on the effects of the drought, Mr. Worghs pointed out that five pigs, 95 goats and 23 cows had died, resulting in a loss of $529,000.

He said that vegetable was the main crop affected by the drought with losses totalling some $6.7 million. All crops suffered damage, the main ones being corn, ground provisions and fruit.

According to Mr. Worghs some farmers were benefiting from the drought affecting the island. He said the farmers who had their fields on the plains had irrigated farms and therefore were able to produce fairly good yields.

He said that in March this year, the parish had completed a one-year Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) funded drought assistance programme which benefited about 650 farmers across the parish who received training, fertilisers and cabbage, sweet pepper, tomato and cantaloupe seeds.

The acting manager pointed out that the aim of the programme was "not only to give things to the farmers, but also to improve the farmers' cultural practices to result in increased productivity".

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