THE MINISTRY of Agriculture and Lands is moving to stamp out "farm squatters" as it attempts to arrest the problem of illegal squatting with the establishment of a special unit to deal with the problem.
The Squatter Management Unit, as it is called, was launched on Tuesday by Agriculture and Lands Minister, Roger Clarke at the Ministry's office at Hope Gardens in St. Andrew. The unit, which is headed by Basil Forsythe, will collaborate with agencies such as the National Housing Trust, National Housing Development Corporation, the Police, National Environment and Planning Agency, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, Parish Councils and the National Land Agency to regularise and prevent further squatting in the parishes of Clarendon, Kingston and St. Andrew, and St. Catherine where it is estimated there are more than 250 informal settlements.
While residential squatting is the main area of concern, Mr. Clarke told Farmers Weekly that agricultural squatting was a problem as farmers usually cut down trees and slash and burn hillsides to clear lands for farming. This, he said, leads to erosion and landslides, environmental degradation and pollution of underground water.
NEGATIVE IMPACT
He, however, pointed out that "agricultural squatting was not as bad as the squatting in the housing areas." But he said "the way they (farmers) cultivate, because it is not done in any order, it does cause a negative impact."
Mr. Clarke said the Squatter Management Unit will be meeting with perpetrators with a view to regularising, these settlements in areas where it can be facilitated and the land not needed for development by the government.
The unit is funded by the Land Management Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, which has a budget of just over $14 million.
How to reduce the risk of spreading bird flu
Do not borrow equipment or vehicles from other farms
Keep the number of visitors to your farm down to a minimum
Keep all means of transport outside your farm as far as possible
If transport must enter, wash the wheels at the farm entrance
When anybody (including you and your family) enters the farm, wash the bottoms of shoes or change shoes at farm entrance
Wash pens and cages coming from outside
When you come from the market, wash poultry pens, cages and other forms of container and means of transport thoroughly
Keep pens, cages and other forms of container, farmyard and equipment clean, washing at least once a week
