RADA Undertaking Preliminary Assessment of Damage Sustained by Agriculture Sector

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is conducting preliminary assessments of damage sustained by the agriculture sector during the passage of Hurricane Beryl.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, told JIS News that the assessments will aid in determining the level of assistance the Government will provide to farmers who have been impacted.

He said the sector, particularly in south and central parishes, “especially… St. Elizabeth, Manchester and Clarendon, recorded extensive damage to all types of crops and livestock.”

“Our chicken farmers suffered a lot of losses to their chicken houses and birds. Additionally, our banana and plantain farmers seem to have been extremely hard hit right across the parishes. Also, [there are] some reports from our vegetable farmers coming out of the parish of St. Ann,” he told JIS News.

Minister Green said damage assessments will be conducted for the rest of this week.

While acknowledging that “[it’s] still early days yet”, he pointed out that “from what we have seen so far, we have really taken a significant battering in the agriculture sector.”

“We will take most of this week to do the visits. A lot of the areas are impassable and that has created a challenge, but I think by early next week, we should have a fair assessment. Once we have an idea, in terms of the damage, then we will be able to indicate the support that will be provided going forward,” he told JIS News.

Minister Green reiterated the Government’s support to assist the island’s farmers.

“I know that our farmers have been really hard hit, and they have gone through a series of challenges. But I want to assure them that the Government stands ready to assist them to ensure that they can come back on their feet as quickly as possible. They know that once there is something of this nature, that we are ready, we are mobilised and that we will help them,” he stated.