Major farm support plan targets water, pests, crop theft

Up to 39 farmers in Christ Church will soon have access to water mains to address irrigation issues on their farms, along with help to manage pests and fight farm theft, Minister of Agriculture Dr Shantal Munro-Knight announced on Tuesday.

Ministry of Agriculture inspects farms of Christ Church farmer Veronica Garnes. (Photo Credit: Lourianne Graham/Barbados TODAY)

The minister led a tour of several farms across the island as part of a drive to highlight production activities, challenges and opportunities in farming.

Dr Munro-Knight confirmed to reporters that the Barbados Water Authority plans to install new water mains in the drier southern parish.

“We will be working with them to make sure that that is installed as soon as possible. We’ve paid for it and we would have done that since March in preparation. It’s unfortunate it’s not laid down as yet, but just again wanting to assure the farmers here that we are working and that we’re paying attention to their issues and concerns.”

About 40 acres of farmland at Spencer’s, just east of the Grantley Adams Airport, will be included in the initiative, said Dr Claire Durant, acting chief executive of the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC).

“We have about 40 acres here in Spencer’s and 38 farmers should benefit from increased water availability and a higher volume of water so that they can conduct their farming activities.”

The minister also pointed to ongoing pest issues affecting farmers across the area:

Farmer Peggy Scott explains why cantelope yield is small. (Photo Credit: Lourianne Graham/Barbados TODAY)

“There are some pest problems in both fields, what I’ve asked the BADMC to be able to do is to make sure that they work with the Ministry of Agriculture and our own research section to then see if we can also as well get some expert advice that we can crowd in to assist because I understand that particularly for small farmers when you have that level of pest infestation, it means that there’s also loss.”

She said the ministry is open to drawing on wider expertise, including experienced farmers:

“Just a little bit more of an expert advice to the extension officers to assist and if necessary, whoever else we may need to be able to call in, they. Maybe some farmers that might have had previous experience.”

Minister of Agriculture Dr Shantal Munro-Knight speaks to farmer Peggy Scott. (Photo Credit: Lourianne Graham/Barbados TODAY)

The ministry is also looking at alternative crops better suited to the conditions in affected areas.

“BADMC has indicated they’re looking to look at alternative crops that might be best suited as opposed to the leafy vegetables that we see now that are having the heavy pest load as well.”

Farmers have also been suffering significant losses from theft – widely termed praedial larceny – with the minister outlining the government’s response plan, which will bring together multiple figures.

“We would have held discussions with the police, with the Barbados Defence Force, as well, whether it is with researchers, people who are using drones, and we have mapped out a plan over the next three months.”

The three-month period will be used to develop a structured approach, alongside immediate interventions already underway, said Dr Munro-Knight.

“The police from the southern division [are] already working in the area that is managed under the southern division, and we’ve asked the police service to be able to look at how successful that measure is. We’ve heard already that people have been charged based on the operations and to see then if we will be able to expand that as well. So a number of different things are in train and progress is there when you talk about.”

Drone technology is also being explored as part of the wider strategy:

“We’ve asked the drone specialists to be able to give us a plan of how drones can be used.”

Dr Munro-Knight acknowledged that cost will be a key factor, particularly for small farmers:

“We’ve got to look at things like cost because for small farmers, the application technology is going to be very costly. So we want to be able to see how much that’s going to cost us. We are looking at other incentive programs as well, so that, for instance, for farmers that are doing well, we can offer them an incentive to help them get some resources to put in cameras and other things like that.”

She also confirmed that a public education campaign on praedial larceny will be launched in July:

“Predial larceny is a societal concern, and we will also in July be launching an aggressive public education and awareness campaign as well because people have to understand what the impact of that means for small farmers.”

The ministry tour also included farms in St James and St Lucy.

(LG)