THE recent fire in the Mavis Bank area of St Andrew could cause a potential loss of $120 million from coffee production, according to Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) president Senator Norman Grant.

The “fire is under control, but there has been extensive damage to the area,” Grant told the Jamaica Observer.

Grant, who is also the CEO and managing director for the Mavis Bank Coffee Factory Limited, stated that the factory was not affected by the fire, but assisted the Jamaica Fire Brigade with water to extinguish the fire.

“Based on preliminary reports, which will be shared with Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Agricultural Development Agency and the Coffee Industry Board, there was mature coffee which burnt of up to 150 boxes, estimated to be at least $1.5 million in value,” Senator Grant told the Business Observer.

Grant also noted that losses could exceed current initial estimates as the fire consumed some 50 acres of coffee, including plants which will need to be replaced.

“The damage caused by the fire could result in a bigger loss because the farmers could lose two years’ earnings totalling $120 million for the current season and the next two seasons,” he said.

Grant said he had commissioned a team from the Extension Department of the JAS to tour the area of Mavis Bank which has been affected by fire and to assess the damage. He also commended the firemen for the “excellent way in which they brought the fire under control”, considering in particular the “dry conditions, hilly terrain and wind”, and expressed sympathy to small-scale coffee farmers.

Last year this time the country experienced a prolonged period of drought which cost the country $1 billion and affected 18,000 farmers, who not only lost crops but also property. The drought also affected small-scale coffee farmers in the Westphalia and Bloxburgh areas in St Andrew East Rural who also suffered losses, due mainly to a reported wildfire.

The JAS president has appealed to farmers, especially at this time of the year, to desist from the ‘slash and burn’ method used to clear farmlands, and instead recommends mulching and contouring.