Farmers urged to be vigilant in Yuletide season

With the Yuletide season being less than two months away, Head of the Jamaica Constabulary Force's Praedial Larceny Unit, Superintendent Oral Pascoe, is urging farmers to be extremely vigilant.

"Animals such as goats are in high demand especially this time around, so if you have a farm, don't allow anyone to come on your farm if you are discussing the sale of business. It is best to carry the produce to them because these thieves are very observant as it relates to the security features on farms. Sometimes they will come and buy a small amount then set up their cronies to steal from you. Stop putting your goats near the roadside and it's best to sell them before the Yuletide season to lessen their herd size," he said.

Earlier this week, State Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Franklin Witter, stated that it will take state agencies, the private sector and the people to "solve this problem" of praedial larceny. Annually, more than $9 billion is lost due to theft.

Praedial larceny remains a huge challenge for the agriculture sector. On Tuesday, the Clarendon police found a brown ewe goat in the back of a Suzuki Vitara along the Race Track main road. The vehicle and the goat were abandoned by the occupants following an attempted traffic stop by the police. In September, eight stolen goats were recovered in a vehicle by the St Elizabeth police. Four men were taken into custody.

According to Pascoe, assuming that farmers are not reporting the true figure of praedial larceny, it is difficult to determine if there is a decline or increase in thefts.

"What I can say is that for the past three years, the awareness of farmers have been increased and the police are also working as well. The receipt book system is working and the police know the requirements and that there is only one legal receipt book in Jamaica for farmers and that is the JAS [Jamaica Agricultural Society] receipt book, and you have to be a registered farmer to obtain that receipt book. It has the name of the farmer on it as well," Pascoe said.

Farmers are urged to change the time pattern in which they travel to and from their farms. Pascoe said thieves has a way of studying their target's work pattern and will have a field day when the farmer retires for the day.

"Do not be predictable, and sometimes turn up with your farm with one person and another time a group of persons. Sometimes the farm hands are the ones doing the stealing and not necessarily outsiders. Rotate your staff and if you have a staff who is always complaining about their salary, be careful. I am not saying that this is always the case, but be alert," the senior cop said.