JAS President Lenworth Fulton
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Lenworth Fulton
By Kimone Witter
Jamaicans are being urged to, as best as possible, store agricultural produce, as these will be scarce over the next two weeks.
President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) Lenworth Fulton says a clearer picture has emerged of the extent of the losses for farmers during Hurricane Beryl.
Plantain, bananas and papaya have been hardest hit.
Mr. Fulton says JP Farms in St. Mary lost more than 90 per cent of its bananas.
He says certain crops are available in substantial amounts now, but this will be for a brief period.
"You're going to see a lot this week of banana, papaya, mangoes, all those that have blown off, but by the next two weeks, you will have serious shortage in the maket place," he warned.
Mr. Fulton, who was speaking with Radio Jamaica's Sunnyside Up host Paula Anne Porter-Jones, said a lot of carrots and onions are also in the field but they will rot soon because they have taken in too much water.
"A lot of carrot in the field now. It can be used, but by next week we have problems. Onions same thing" he said.
Mr. Fulton said consumers should expect a further increase in the cost for vegetables as the entire vegetable belt - including areas such as Kellits, Savannah, Douglas Castle, Fort George, Cave Valley and Battersea - is flooded.
"All of those areas are under water now as we speak, so we will have a serious problem with the prices for vegetables. So if you see them out there this weekend, buy as much of them as possible," he urged.
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