URGENT INTERVENTION

VENDOR ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR SOLUTIONS TO FARMERS’ WATER WOES

By Shamar Blunt

As the effects of drought conditions trickle down to vendors, President of the Barbados Association of Retailers, Vendors and Entrepreneurs (BARVEN) Alister Alexander is calling for some intervention to address the water woes.
His appeal came amid forecasts that rainfall will remain low in the coming weeks, with relief expected only at the start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season in June.
Pointing out that the persistent drought conditions continue to threaten the livelihoods of farmers, Alexander said that despite numerous conversations with stakeholders, a workable solution for the agricultural sector has not been found.
“We, therefore, find [ourselves] in a situation where [when] there is a drought, we will be affected. Those in St Lucy have reported that there is rationing of water at this point in time. It’s always very difficult for farmers. We have suggested [a number] of things to alleviate this situation,” he told Barbados TODAY.
“Every year we are saying the same thing as far as trying to alleviate the situation. Government does not control the climate but we believe that we have to use some system. [We] can convert water from the sea or something, but we can’t continue [this way]. You cannot farm without water.”
On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw announced that given the 40 per cent decline in rainfall expected until June, water restrictions will be implemented.
And earlier this week, Project Phoenix farmers at Wakefield, St John reported to Barbados TODAY that they were struggling to produce crops due to the lack of rain and some of them had been forced to put their operations on hold.
Alexander said while the Government wanted to see the agriculture sector expanded, which would also benefit vendors, that could not be achieved unless water issues were not addressed.
“It makes no sense; we are talking about expansion of the business of agriculture and then we don’t have water. It is something that we have to solve if we are to do what we say we want to do. BARVEN and its sister farming organisations, we will see what is possible,” he said.
shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb