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Western St. Thomas farmers and Edwin Marr, Councillor for the Llandewy division
By Nakinskie Robinson
Farmers in western St. Thomas are expressing grave concern over the closeness of a widely used irrigation pump facility to a gully, which overflows its banks whenever there is heavy rainfall.
They say the pump facility faces the likelihood of being washed away during intense rainfall and other weather events.
The farmers insist immediate action is needed before their livelihoods are severely impacted.
"The next moment when [the gully overflows] again, the pump house gone, and if the pump house gone, Heartease gone, below Heartease gone, Corner gone. Bredda, we need fi prevent di ting before di ting happen," said one worried farmer.
"Mi lose around 18 East Indian mango tree, quarter a mi farm gone. This river is a threat to Heartease, the whole entire village," said another, who called for something to be done as soon as possible.
Councillor for the Llandewy division, Edwin Marr, has urged the National Water Commission, Ministry of Agriculture and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) to promptly address the issue.
He has also called for stakeholders, like RADA, to partner more with the police to stem praedial larceny in the division.
Additionally, Mr. Marr said RADA must play a more active role in providing assistance to farmers in need of fertilisers and other farming equipment to further boost their livelihoods.
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