St Bess farmers get two water trucks

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, through the National Irrigation Commission (NIC), has made a significant investment towards supporting farmers in St Elizabeth with the commissioning of two new water trucks to address their water woes.

The trucks, each with a capacity of 4,491 gallons, were procured at a cost of $37 million. They can pump 500 gallons per minute. They were commissioned into service by Agriculture Minister Floyd Green during a ceremony at the NIC's Hounslow office in St Elizabeth last Friday. Green said the trucks will serve approximately 1,200 farmers across more than 70 communities. The communities to benefit include Malvern, Top Hill, Newell, Junction, Flagaman, and Lacovia, which are all being plagued by the ongoing drought.

"The idea is that the trucks will be utilised to serve our worst-hit areas and, unfortunately, one of the worst-hit areas happens to be right here in South St Elizabeth," said Green, who noted that plans are afoot to deploy one of the trucks to assist farmers in Kitson Town, Sandy Bay, and Old Harbour in St Catherine. "So these two trucks will be utilised to ensure that the farmers are able to get water."

Green said the decision to bring the two trucks to St Elizabeth is part of an overall effort to ensure that farmers can see profitability from their agricultural investments amid the protracted drought plaguing the parish.

"It is wonderful that we're here to deliver to the farmers something that can help them manoeuvre this difficult time and secure their investments," said Green.

Joseph Gyles, chief executive officer of the NIC, said the provision of the trucks is part of the organisation's mission to serve the agricultural community through high-quality irrigation services to farmers.

"We understand the vital role that farmers play in the prosperity of our nation, and we are dedicated to providing them with the support and resources they need to thrive. Whether it's through efficient irrigation systems, technical assistance, or personalised customer care, we are here to ensure that our farmers have the tools to succeed," said Gyles.

Farmer Tisha Robinson, who has been farming in Pedro Plains since she was 14, was elated with the commissioning of the two trucks. She said that she sees them as the answer to addressing the drought conditions in the parish, which have been threatening the cucumber, melon, cantaloupe, and other produce on her farm.