OCHO RIOS, St Ann — With crop wilting in the fields and livestock dying from excessive heat, parish agricultural manager for the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) St Ann Delroy Luke is warning that consumers will soon likely have to pay more.

“This current drought condition has resulted in the loss of not just production, but productivity levels for crops that were established. In some instances plants have wilted before they have started to produce; for example, hot peppers, sweet peppers, tomatoes, string beans, pumpkins, cabbages, just to name a few,” Luke explained.

“As it relates to livestock, high temperatures resulted in stress-related conditions, which results in high mortality rate of broiler birds — mainly day-old chicks — and slow growth rate for older broiler birds. As it relates to cattle, pastures are grazed out, as a result of slow growth rate for grasses. So, in short, there is not enough grass to support most goat and cattle farmers at this time,” the RADA official added.

These are the reasons he believes prices will likely increase.

“Farm gate price for crops will definitely be impacted due to short supply, and scarcity of produce. Crops that are expected to see an increase shortly are cabbage, tomato, lettuce, carrot, pumpkins, Irish potatoes, sweet and hot peppers,” Luke said.

Noting that St Ann has been affected by the drought since January, he said while some communities received recent rainfall, it is uncertain if these showers will continue.

“Reports from the Met Office had indicated that there is a possibility for the change to begin sometime in May onwards,” he noted.

The RADA parish manager said alternative mechanisms such as the trucking of water are being used at this time to help farmers; however, this is only in some cases.

“This is actually based on the terrain and where some of these farmers are located,” Luke explained.

He said other long-term measures such as the implementation of additional irrigation systems and water harvesting are in the pipeline.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced that the country is experiencing a meteorological, hydrological and agricultural drought, and during a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday morning principal director of the Meteorological Services Branch Evan Thompson said the severe dry conditions could last until May or June.

It was also revealed that several rivers and streams have dried up in many parishes including Westmoreland, St Mary and that water issues in Brown’s Town, St Ann linger due to challenges with the Minard Well system.

“Not only farmers are affected, but households are also impacted, negatively, with domestic water supply,” a concerned Luke told the Jamaica Observer.