East Portland farmers get hurricane relief supplies

PORT ANTONIO, Portland:

More than 70 farmers, whose stocks were ravaged during the passage of Hurricane Beryl in July, on Thursday received bags of poultry and livestock feeds, fertiliser, and baby chicks to assist with their recovery.

The items were handed out by East Portland Member of Parliament Ann-Marie Vaz, who highlighted the importance of preserving the livelihood of farmers, especially those in the Rio Grande Valley, who were hard-hit during the passage of the hurricane.

“The Rio Grande Valley is really the breadbasket of this constituency and to a larger extent the parish of Portland,” she commented.

“Many of our farmers have still not recovered from the damages caused by Beryl, especially those whose farmlands are located in Bellevue, Comfort Castle, Moore Town, Grants Level, Berrydale, and Rivers View. Livestock including cows, goats, and pigs were washed away, along with poultry. Banana, plantain, pepper, and pumpkins were also destroyed. And so they are in need of assistance to ensure that they can continue their livelihood,” she added.

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GRATITUDE

One farmer, Daniel Green, who reportedly lost three cows, five goats, and six fully grown pigs, along with approximately two acres of fully grown banana, expressed delight at receiving seven bags of fertiliser and livestock feeds which, according to him, will assist with getting him back up and running with his farm.

“Mi suffa (suffer) a big loss when Beryl come and dis help come at di right time, especially di fertiliser dem, because dem very expensive now,” said Green.

“Mi clean up di farm and a just wait mi did a wait fi see if mi did a go get any help. Mi really thankful fi di help from di MP and others like mi self happy fi what we receive. A man haffi plant and feed him fambily (family) and sell some to him neighbour and at the market. People nuh fi out a food inna Jamaica. Too much idle lands deh yah. But more young people need fi start farming in a Jamaica,” he added.

Janet Henry from Rivers View, who reportedly lost more than 400 chickens, was happy for the assistance. She expressed gratitude, even as she contemplated measures to secure her stock in the event of another flooding.

“It naah go happen to me again. No sah mi a meck sure say mi build di coop higher dis time, so no water can reach it fi wash it away. All now mi caan find nuh trace a where mi chicken and di coop wash way gone. Mi did have about 400 chickens nearing four weeks when disaster struck. Di only ting mi coulda do a bawl,” she said.