Linstead farmers seek help after losing crops to heavy rains

Two St Catherine small farmers who suffered massive losses because of Tropical Storms Grace and Ida are now seeking the assistance of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA).

Michael Davis, 53, and Neville Francis, 51, said that they have suffered combined losses of just under J$1 million. Both men say they have largely depended on their farms to support their families, selling their produce to vendors at the Coronation Market in Kingston.

"The breeze blow down banana, plantain and cane, and the water cause a lot of pumpkin to spoil. Mi lose about half a million dollars worth of stuff," said Davis, who said he has been farming for 20 years. He said that he has suckers to begin the replanting process.

"Where I will need some help is with fertilisers and spray. If mi can get some help from RADA with this mi would a glad because this would help me to get back where I was before," said Davis, who said that he works his seven-acre plot mostly by himself.

With announcements coming from RADA that it had dispatched teams to assess the fallout to the agricultural sector from the storms, Davis is hoping that he will get a visit, but said that he has never received any assistance from RADA. Francis, whose five-acre farm is situated about a mile from Davis' plot, is also hoping for fertilisers and spray to get rid of parasites.

"I never get any help from RADA or nobody since mi start farming and mi need help now," said Francis, who has been cultivating yam, banana, pumpkin and Scotch bonnet pepper for the past 30 years. Francis said that he suffered about $350,000 in losses.

"We never get a chance to recover from Grace before Ida come. Mi know mi can't get back what mi loss, but mi can bounce back with a little help from dem. Mi prepared to do the work, mi just want help," he stressed.