Heavy rainfall from an active hurricane season has been unfortunate for some farmers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as it has resulted in crop losses and unemployment. Most likely, it will also lead to price increases for vegetables.
A vegetable damage assessment survey was conducted by the Extension and Advisory Services Division of the Ministry of Agriculture during the first week of October 2022. The growers interviewed were selected randomly from among the major vegetable producers in Majorca, Forty Acre, Mt. Pleasant, Evesham, Riley, Water house, Green Hill, Fenton, Calder, Akers, Farm, Dauphine and Montreal.
The findings showed the monetary losses to farmers in these areas, as a result of excessive rainfall, amounted to between $1,000 and $10,000 XCD. A high rate of unemployment was reported among farmers and farm workers and up to 80 per cent of farmers were unable to supply their main buyers during the reporting period.
In addition to monetary losses, the survey also showed that the heavy rains caused increased incidences of pests and diseases, resulting in total destruction of carrots, cucumbers, watermelons and peanut crops and up to 70 percent damage of tomatoes, cabbage and sweet pepper crops.
Source: searchlight.vc