The Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) says it’s too early to determine what impact the worsening dry spell will have on the price of ground produce.
JAS President, Senator Norman Grant, told RJR News that the Rural Agricultural Development Authority and JAS Branch Societies are carrying out assessments.
Each parish Branch Society will be asked to give a report on Wednesday during the JAS annual general meeting.
According to Grant proposals for assistance will be submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture.
“There was a growth rate of 18% in the first quarter, we have to look at the second quarter numbers andwe can access the impact. We are saying that to mitigate against any fall off in production for the third quarter there has to be some intervention, I believe, from government,” he said.
He noted that the agricultural sector is not yet in panic mode, despite the severe decline in rainfall and the increased number of fires affecting farms in St. Elizabeth.
The JAS President said an education campaign is needed and the age old method of clearing land using fire will be addressed at Wednesday’s annual general meeting.
Fire personnel have attributed the fires which have razed sections of southern St. Elizabeth to the slash and burn method.
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Impact of drought on agriculture not yet known
