RADA Urges Farmers Not to Slash-and-Burn in Dry Season

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is discouraging farmers from slashing and burning during the peak of the dry season, which lasts from February to April of this year.

Slash-and-burn is the cutting and burning of trees to clear land for cultivation.

With forecasts of normal to below normal rainfall during this time, conditions are ideal for the spread of fires, which can devastate crops and livestock.

Senior Plant Health and Food Safety Officer with RADA, Francine Webb, told JIS News that because of water limitations, keeping plants well hydrated and preventing fires on farms may also be much harder at this time.

“Fire prevention is going to be critical. We don’t want to start any fires now. With reduced levels of rainfall that we’re expecting for this period, water is going to be limited. It’s going to be important for farmers at this time to look at alternative water sources for farming activities,” she said.

“Cutting back on that practice of slashing and burning is crucial; it is not going to be encouraged for this period at all. As such, we are asking farmers not to, as much as possible, slash-and-burn,” she added.

Ms. Webb, in the interview with JIS News, said there are practices farmers can employ to reduce the risk of fire.

“Clearing dry vegetation and strips around the field and buildings are important. You want to remove your dead grasses around the farms and homes just to reduce the risk of fires, particularly if you’re in an area that is prone to that,” she said.