Will there be a food shortage in Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa?
If you’ve been to the supermarket since Melissa, you’ve probably noticed that the produce aisles are almost empty. And even at the markets, it’s hard to find your favourite fruits and veggies.
Agriculture Minister Floyd Green said preliminary estimates put losses to Jamaica’s agriculture and fisheries sector at almost $30 billion. That’s over US$180 million!
The cat 5 storm tore through most of the island’s key food-producing parishes, some of which were just starting to recover from Hurricane Beryl last year.
The Minister said that some over 40,000 hectares of farmland have been affected. And more than 70,000 farmers have lost their crops.
Staple crops such as vegetables, bananas, tubers and fruit trees have been extensively damaged. More than 1.25 million animals, including poultry, pigs, and cattle, were also killed.
Livestock losses alone are estimated at over J$3 billion – over US$18 million.
Green said the fisheries sector has also suffered “catastrophic, island-wide” damage, estimated at J$6 billion- or US$37 million. Over three thousand fishing vessels were damaged or destroyed.
In response, the Government has announced a $3 billion recovery plan aimed at getting farmers and fishers back into production as quickly as possible.
An initial $450 million is being redirected from the Ministry’s Production Incentive Programme to emergency replanting, restocking and land preparation.
An additional $80 million has been set aside for seeds and agro-chemicals. And for the next six months, RADA’s tractor service will provide free land preparation. Seeds and planting material from government nurseries will be issued for free for three months.
The Ministry has also set up dedicated hotlines to fast-track damage reports. Meanwhile, farmers in less-affected eastern parishes are being urged to ramp up production to offset the losses from the west.
Now, of course, there’s still the issue of what’s gonna happen in the short term, especially with the holidays right around the corner.
The government said it will be importing some fruits and vegetables to fill gaps in the market and control inflation. So hopefully, you’ll be able to get what you need for your Christmas dinner plate at a reasonable price.
And that’s the bottom line.
