We are constantly reminded of the vagaries and vulnerabilities in farming.

In early July, for example, Hurricane Beryl, which sideswiped Jamaica’s south coast, devastated agriculture to the tune of close to $5 billion.

Even since Beryl, heavy rains have caused considerable farm damage.

And, like clockwork, we can expect that in the traditionally dry months to come in early 2025 there will be more grief, given the inadequacy of irrigation systems to counter drought.

Indeed, weather extremes and a paucity of strategic planning in farm production often lead to shortages and gluts. These result in wildly fluctuating prices, from boom to bust, which serve as a major disincentive for many who would otherwise embrace agriculture.

Beyond all of the above, it’s well established that in Jamaica the biggest turn-off for farmers is theft, traditionally labelled here as praedial larceny.

As the late Mr Roger Clarke, a former agriculture minister, colourfully framed it many years ago: “…No flood, no drought… wreak as much damage as those people who have decided to reap what they have not sown.”

Current Agriculture Minister Mr Floyd Green tells us that the cost to farmers caused by thieves is now approximately $14 billion annually.

Increasingly, farm theft is big business, with armed, organised gangs involved.

It’s not uncommon for farmers to die in defence of their property and, on the other hand, for vigilante groups to mob, maim, and kill suspected crop and livestock thieves.

A welcome development in more recent years is the increased seriousness with which the authorities are treating the matter.

The passage earlier this year of amendments to the Agriculture Produce Act of 1926, imposing much stronger penalties for farm theft was encouraging.

Now we hear that the long-awaited agricultural wardens’ programme is becoming reality.

Mr Green told Parliament recently that a drive has started to recruit and train 300 wardens to tackle farm thieves.

The minister said training for the first 100 recruits will begin in January 2025. They are to be deployed as a dedicated “formation within the police force that focuses on agricultural crime”.

Further, “… a joint high-level committee of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, the JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) and the Ministry of National Security will monitor and manage the implementation of the programme…”

Presumably, farm-based organisations, including the Jamaica Agricultural Society, as well as community groups, will be involved.

We note the minister’s comment that advice will be available for farm watch groups and licensed firearm holders.

Farmers and their neighbours could help themselves by heeding the advice of a letter writer to this newspaper in 2021 to: “[C]ome together and discuss their strengths and weaknesses, then devise a… strategy to protect their possessions. If others in the community own cameras… maybe that could be of help. When all that is worked out, they should invite law enforcement to meet, share ideas, and fine-tune strategies, fully aware that there are those in the community who are working with thieves. Some of those may even be working on the farms…”

As we keep saying in this space, criminals routinely lose when faced with united, well-organised communities working hand in hand with the police.