Ministry to provide drought assistance

LINSTEAD: DEPUTY PARISH Manager for the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) in St. Catherine, Pedra Worghs, said the Ministry of Agriculture was taking steps to assist farmers who suffered from the recent drought.

He was speaking at RADA's office last Friday.

Farmers have been turning up at the office daily to find out what form of assistance could be provided for them.

The Deputy Parish Manager said the loss to farmers in St. Catherine due to the drought has been set at about $11.5 million. The loss include poultry and other livestock which died as a result of the drought.

RADA said that among the crops lost were callaloo, cucumbers, sweet peppers, lettuce and other vegetables, most of which were intended for the export market.

Mr. Worghs said communities worst affected by the drought were Bushy Park, Spring Village, Thethford, Hartlands, sections of Old Harbour, Southwest St. Catherine and communities in northeast St. Catherine.

However, RADA told the farmers there was no certainty as to the type of assistance they would be getting. Assistance is usually given to farmers in the form of agricultural inputs such as fertilisers, feeds, assistance with land preparation and technical assistance.

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