Record-breaking storm wipes out key crops and livestock, forcing government to plug urgent gaps in the food chain.
Jamaica will have to import fruit and vegetables following severe damage to the agriculture sector after Hurricane Melissa.
Agriculture Minister Floyd Green says the Caribbean country will have to import basic food items such as eggs, vegetables and fruits in the coming months to keep up with the demand from the population.
According to The Jamaica Gleaner, Green told Parliament that Jamaica’s agriculture sector has been adversely affected by the record-breaking Category 5 storm, and the estimated the financial loss is $29.5 billion.
Writing on X, he said: “The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining is moving fast to stabilise the supply of food.”
40,000 hectares of farmland affected
Over 40,000 hectares of farmland have been affected, which over 70,000 farmers impacted.
There has also been significant loss of livestock across the island.
Approximately, 1.2 million animals, including poultry and cattle, have been lost due to Hurricane Melissa.
Additionally, Green said domestic crops saw losses of approximately 32,400 hectares of vegetable lines, with damages estimated at J$8.8 billion, affecting 47,500 farmers, the local newspaper reported.
Some of the crops that have been most impacted are tomato, lettuce, cabbage, sweet pepper and carrots.
There has also been a substantial loss of melon and cantaloupe plants.
Almost 2,450 hectares, of banana and plantain crops have been lost, at an estimated value of J$2.9 billion.
This loss has impacted 2,760 farmers.
Yam and cassava crops damaged
Fruit trees and Tuber crops such as yams and cassava, has also reported glaring damage.
Coffee has sustained a 40% damage to trees with a 40 – 45% loss of production, at an estimated value of J$800 million.
According to the agriculture minister, within the poultry sector, there has been J$2billion in damages.
Green also said Jamaica has lost 3,560 small ruminants, 5,600 pigs, and 2,850 cattle, with combined losses of J$3.1 billion.
Over 2000 bee colonies have been lost following the path of the hurricane.
Popular food crops in Jamaica, such as yam, cassava, breadfruit, ackee, mangoes and bananas, were all said to have suffered significant damage following Beryl’s hurricane-force winds and torrential rain.
“We have seen about 85% of our bananas and our plantain lines go down in Portland and St Mary,” Green said after visiting farms in the southern parish of St Elizabeth last year.
Source - https://www.voice-online.co.uk
