Foul odour at farm eliminated after BADMC clean-up

Farmers at Spencer’s in Christ Church said Thursday they were relieved after the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC) completed remedial work that removed a foul odour stemming from a suspected septic waste dumping earlier this month.  

Barbados TODAY observed that the affected area had been fully covered, with no lingering scent of the waste that had previously raised alarm among farmers and nearby residents.  

The development follows complaints on March 12 that septic waste had been dumped near agricultural lands, prompting an investigation by the Ministry of Agriculture and a multi-agency response involving the BADMC, the Barbados Water Authority, and environmental and health officials.  

The BADMC deployed equipment to cover the affected area with soil, effectively sealing the site where the septic waste had been dumped and eliminating the odour.  

When the complaint was brought to national attention, Minister of Agriculture Dr Shantal Munro-Knight indicated that authorities were working collaboratively across agencies to ensure the area was secured and not compromised.  

She also maintained that while initial reports suggested the dumping did not occur directly on cultivated lands, the incident remained unacceptable.  

Farmers had complained that trucks had been dumping waste near the area for some time, raising concerns about potential contamination and the impact on their livelihoods.  

The issue gained traction on social media and drew wider attention, including calls for action from stakeholders in agriculture. 

(SZB)