As the effect of months of no rainfall continue to impact the island, farmers in George North, Cobbla, Santa Hill and Spring Ground in Manchester, are also reeling. But unlike their counterparts in Portland and St Elizabeth, who say they understand Government’s decision to import some vegetables, these seasoned men of the soil also want something to be done to compensate them for their losses.

Irish potato is the main crop planted in these areas and for Felix Robinson, it’s the first time he has experienced such a severe drought. “I planted some Irish potatoes in April but I have lost it all. I get back only some very fine (small) seeds to plant, nothing to sell and I cannot plant back anything for now because the time is too dry,” he told The Gleaner when our team visited the area last week.

Michael Dale, of Cobbla, plants yam, banana and plantain, but he has lost his entire crop. He said the heat burnt most of it and moths ate the rest.

“I have 180 hills of yam and I think I might only reap half of it,” he said, his voice tinged with despair.

Basil Simpson, from Santa Hill, said he planted Irish potatoes, ironically, at a section of his community called Water Lane, but for the first in a long time, he lost all four bags.

“Just like Felix, mi get pure likkle (little) seed. My yam take a beating, too, and now, it just a spring again,” he told The Gleaner.

Although Errol Christopher planted both yam and sorrel, he is worried that he cannot transplant his sorrel suckers because it is just too hot.

“They will die if I do that now. I don’t have any water to give them. Last year this time, I had already transplanted my sorrel. My yam get a setback, too, and the yield will be small. I can’t weed it because the grass is holding the little moisture that’s left moisture in it. I want some rain to come quick,” he said.

Source Jamaica-Gleaner.com

read full article here http://mobile.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140721/news/news1.php