PORT ANTONIO, Portland:
THE JAMAICA Agriculture Society (JAS) local branch in Portland has indicated that more than 350 farm families have suffered losses of crops, livestock, land and houses, during the November flood rains.
So far, 80 farmers from Fruitful Vale, a farming community, have lost crops in the form of coffee, bananas, tobacco and scotch bonnet pepper. Farm produce was not the only loss suffered by these farmers, as landslides and mudslides contributed to the washing away of farm lands and property.
Parish co-ordinator of the JAS, Thelma Williams, said on Thursday, that the areas of Bybrook, Berrydale, Shirley Castle, Chepstowe and also Durron Gap, had suffered heavy casualties to flood rains that started on October 29, 2001.
The co-ordinator stated that the areas mentioned had suffered losses in the form of livestock (goat, pigs and cows), coffee, bananas, plantain and citrus fruits including grapefruit and oranges.
"The JAS along with the Member of Parliament Dr. Donald Rhodd, have formed an alliance", said Mrs. Williams. "The Member of Parliament has pledged half million dollars through the Social Economic Support Programme (SESP), to assist farmers at Berrydale, who suffered loss to property and houses," she said.
The JAS co-ordinator also went on to say that its president, Bobby Pottinger was instrumental in handing out a variety of food items to assist farmers ravaged by the flood.
Mrs. Williams also added that food will be frequently distributed to farmers until they are able to get back on their feet. Tools, fertilisers, seedlings and other farming equipment were also handed out to the farmers through the JAS.
Robert Anderson and Russell Anderson, both farmers at Shirley Castle lost 125 boxes of ripe coffee berries, 700 bearing coffee trees and 200 roots of bearing banana trees, as well as 400 roots of bearing scotch bonnet pepper.
