Farmers were urged to harvest whatever crops they could ahead of Jamaica being impacted by Hurricane Melissa in order to minimise their losses.

This was disclosed by Agriculture Minister Floyd Green during a special media briefing at Jamaica House on Saturday.

“We’ve been saying to our different types of farmers to take necessary precautions; firstly for them to be out there harvesting if they can,” he said.

“We have been working with a number of our farmers, our fruit farmers, pepper farmers [urging them] to harvest what they have, to work with our agro-processors to provide those items so they can minimse their losses,” he emphasised.

“Additionally, we have been saying to our livestock farmers to ensure that they have sufficient feed for their animals, ensure that they have sufficient clean water for their animals. If the animals are in a flood-prone area, move them to higher ground,” Green added.

He shared that the agriculture ministry has sent out advisories and teams from the Rural Agricultural Development Authority have been on the ground visiting with farmers.

Green said farmers have been told to clear drains so they can get rid of the excess water and “if you’re a banana and plantain farmer, please get rid of the overhanging trees, prop up your plants; store your chemicals in a dry place”.

The agriculture minister implored farmers not to venture out into the hurricane in an attempt to save their crops and animals.

“Oftentimes that causes loss of life,” he stated.

With hundreds of greenhouse structures destroyed during Hurricane Beryl in 2024, and with many of those farmers not yet fully rebuilt, Green is encouraging them to follow established protocols to secure their investment.

“We have been literally calling our greenhouse farmers through RADA to say to them, ensure that you strip your greenhouses, take off the plastic so that the wind can pass through,” he said.

He told the media briefing that AgroInvest Corporation has been working with the agro parks, looking at critical drains, trying to clean them ahead of the hurricane in an attempt to minimise flooding. The Sugar Company of Jamaica is undertaking similar works he said.

-Lynford Simpson