Saint Lucia’s agriculture industry took a hard blow during the recent passage of Tropical Storm Bret, but the government has committed to the sector’s revitalisation.
Agriculture Minister Alfred Prospere gave the assurance amid a comprehensive assessment of the damage and the formulation of recovery strategies.
Prospere, who visited storm-affected agriculture communities, disclosed that one farmer lost 1,400 chicks in region four.
Bret also damaged 18 greenhouses and impacted 41 acres of vegetables.
In addition, the weather system negatively affected sea moss farmers due to the storm surges it caused.
Seventy-five percent of banana farms sustained damage at a time when Saint Lucia faces a challenge in meeting market demand.
“We are expected to supply about 15000 boxes per week and we are only half of that, so certainly that storm would have been a setback for our farmers,” the Agriculture Minister observed.Â
Prospere explained that it was extremely important for the farmers to get support.
 “I am not in a position to say what level of support will be given to them because we are still collecting information, we are still collecting data, and as I said it is a preliminary assessment of the situation and as soon as we get all the details all the information, I’m certainly sure that cabinet will be in a situation to decide as to what sort of support will be given to the farmers,” the he stated according to a release from his Ministry.
You want to give support but not in a position to know what level of support will be given smfh, politrics
I have a question for banana farmers especially in low areas like for instance the Roseau valley. You know that every time there is a storm or bad weather the wind knocks down the trees right? I understand if there is flooding then you cant do much about it but cant you plant trees as a wind barrier on the outer perimeter of your farms to lessen the impact of the strong winds which could reduce your crops being damaged by wind?
Thanks Minister the farmers patiently awaits the much needed government assistance
For the past five (5) years the banana farmers have been operating at a lost. Every year they get a bad blow.
The banana industry was in a big decline, farmers came together and started going back to Their farms, you could imagine after purchasing fertilizer for two hundred plus dollars per 50kg bag, that’s the blow they got.
All fields were laden with bunches, expecting to harvest most of it by July month end. Farmers always think the hurricane months for them is around Mid August to November, but this year they got a very early visit, they were all caught off guard. I hope the Government through the Agricultural insurance help the farmers.
The farmers are broken please help them get back to their livelihood.
How do they go about helping farmers. The snakes in the government just need to enact a minimum wage to stop the exploitation of the workforce