Beryl’s blow to agriculture sector nears $5 billion
Published:Thursday | July 18, 2024 | 12:09 AMCarl Gilchrist/Gleaner Writer
Estimated losses in the local agriculture sector post-Hurricane Beryl have surged to $4.73 billion, with more than 48,000 farmers being affected, according to Agriculture Minister Floyd Green.
More than 323,000 animals were lost during the hurricane, which severely affected the island’s southern parishes of St Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St Elizabeth, and Westmoreland, the most food-productive areas.
The Government’s immediate response is to provide $700 million to aid in recovery efforts, Green told Parliament on Tuesday, noting that the nation’s farmers “have suffered a devastating blow”.
He said, however, that the country is determined to recover even stronger.
“Our preliminary assessment ... reveals the extent of the devastation: Approximately 23,040 hectares of farmland has been affected, impacting over 48,852 farmers; loss of approximately 323,412 animals to include small ruminants, poultry and cattle,” Green said in detailing the impact.
Green said 40,500 farmers lost approximately 18,700 hectares of vegetables, valued at approximately $1.95 billion.
Sweet pepper, tomato, lettuce, cabbage, carrot and vine crops such as melon and cantaloupe also suffered a significant blow.
Banana and plantain farmers suffered a hit of $385 million, in addition to significant losses of fruit trees and ground provisions such as yam and cassava, the minister said.
Livestock was also severely impacted.
“The poultry sector has been severely hit, with 43,000 layers and 278,000 broilers lost, amounting to $248 million in damages. [Some] 980 small ruminants, 514 pigs, and 278 cattle have been lost, with combined losses of $102.5 million. The apiculture sector has lost 640 bee colonies, amounting to $12.8 million in damages,” Green told the House, further revealing the widescale devastation.
In terms of infrastructure, Green said 236 greenhouses were damaged, with losses estimated at $856 million. The hurricane also damaged over 62 kilometres of farm roads, with losses put at $165 million.
There was an estimated 60 per cent damage to coffee farms and infrastructure across the island. Pimento, nutmeg, turmeric, and ginger also suffered from the storm.
Meanwhile, approximately 11,200 fishermen were affected by the hurricane, losing gear valued at more than $1 billion.
Green said the Government has provided funding of $700 million to help the agriculture sector recover.
“Today, I am pleased to announce that to drive the immediate recovery of the sector we will be allocating $700 million to provide various forms of short-term assistance. This initial tranche will be used to purchase critical items urgently needed,” he said, noting that aid would be disbursed through agencies linked to the sector.
There will be an additional $150 million available through members of parliament, to be prorated based on the level of damage in their constituency.
“Those allocations will have to be utilised over the next four weeks and will go through a verification process to ensure that they have, in fact, suffered damage through Hurricane Beryl,” Green noted.