JAS says agricultural losses from heavy rains could surpass $1 billion

By Clinton McGregor    

 

The Jamaica Agriculture Society (JAS) says farmers likely suffered more than a billion dollars in losses due to last week's heavy rains and is warning consumers to brace for higher prices for vegetables and other produce.

 

JAS President Lenworth Fulton told Radio Jamaica News that the island's farmers suffered significant damage to their farms and crops.

 

"Well, the damage was in couple categories - access roads, so they can't go to their farms - and young, maturing vegetables would have perished in waterlogged fields. And most of those vegetables would include cabbage, lettuce, pak choi, string beans, carrot, heavy losses with tomato, and some Irish potato. It means that the prices, which were already high, will move up a little bit for the Christmas season because we'll have less vegetables," he lamented.    

 

Mr. Fulton said the prices for most crops will move to more than $150 per pound.  

 

"I don't have a figure yet [for the losses] but I know it would be in the billions of dollars," he declared.