Portland farmers suffer losses after heavy rains

An estimated eight hectares of farm produce were damaged during two days of heavy rainfall, which ravaged farm lands in the Rio Grande Valley of Portland, further crippling the livelihood of some farmers.

A preliminary assessment carried out by the Rural Agriculture Development Authority (RADA) on Wednesday has revealed that banana, plantain, pepper, dasheen, pineapple, cocoa, and papaya were some of the crops that were damaged after water from nearby rivers inundated several farms.

"In terms of damages or loss we are estimating about eight hectares in total. I am to get a summary report from the team that went out on Wednesday, but I haven't gotten that yet," Kasif Smith, RADA parish manager for Portland, told THE STAR. "Some of the feedback that I am getting from the farmers is that based on the damage, they got a lot of wash out from drains in the area that were filled. The areas affected are Seaman's Valley, a small section of Fellowship, and other parts of the parish like Unity Valley-Shrewsbury area (west Portland). But it's just two farmers that gave reports from that area."

Smith added "Most of the farmers say they have suffered worse damage before. The normal assistance for them (farmers) would be fertiliser, assistance in terms of some of the drains, and chemicals." According to Smith, real time assistance to farmers is dependent on the agriculture minister and what is available as it relates to budgetary support.

One farmer, Courtney Thomas, told THE STAR that it will be a real challenge for him to get back on his feet, as approximately eight and half acres of banana were affected when his farm was flooded on Tuesday. He said that he will need tangible assistance to get the farm up and running again.

"Right now I am trying to see how much of the fruit I can salvage that can be ripened and sold to the local market," he said. "I have suffered a heavy loss. The river flowed right through corner to corner. I now have to get a whole heap a men to help me to clean up. I have been farming in this area for five years and it is the worst I have ever seen it. My immediate need is to get some fertiliser."

Other farmers including Howard McKenzie, Garfield Scott, and Terence Brown, who all planted banana in the Seaman's Valley area of east Portland, have suffered a similar fate. Like Thomas, they too are appealing for fertilisers and chemicals.