By Ruth Coombs, Gleaner WriterLINSTEAD, St. Catherine:
BESIDES HAVING to deal with the usual lack of water in their communities, residents of north east St. Catherine now have to contend with a serious drought which has been affecting sections of the parish.
Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) members, as well as other farmers who are preparing for the Denbigh Agricultural Show, say their agricultural produce has been hard-hit by the drought, noting that it could affect attendance at the Denbigh Show.
Communities that are the hardest hit include Troja, Williams-field, Riversdale, Hampshire and environs. These communities were noted for very good agricultural produce and have even won prizes at a number of food shows, including Denbigh.
PRODUCE AFFECTED
At least two outstanding farmers who normally supply produce at Denbigh Shows, Myrtle Hyatt and Julius James, said their milk produce has also reduced considerably. They normally supply milk to the Bybrook Condensery. They also said their earning capacity has taken a serious hit as a result.
The residents are also saying that coupled with drought conditions roads in the communities are in a deplorable condition. This has resulted in transport operators being reluctant to travel on these roads and farmers are unable to get their produce out to market which results in spoilage and loss of income.
BAD ROADS
Residents, including farmers, have demonstrated for some time to have these road conditions rectified. This has resulted also in vehicles for the essential services not being able to use the roads. Several days ago an ambulance had to use an alternative route through Guys Hill due to the poor road conditions to get to the Linstead Hospital - a distance seven miles longer than the normal route.
However, Parish Manager for the Rural Agricultural Development Authority Andrew Carthy, who is responsible for the exhibit of the Denbigh Agricultural Show from St. Catherine, have told the farmers that all efforts will be made to do some remedial work on the road to allow the farmers' produce to reach the Denbigh Show.
