CLONMEL, ST Mary — While they were spared the worst of Hurricane Melissa, farmers in St Mary still took a massive hit with crops destroyed by the wind and rain associated with the Category 5 storm which hit the island on October 28.

Their once-luxuriant fields of bananas, plantains, pumpkins, and cash crops, including Scotch bonnet peppers, callaloo, and cucumbers, are now nothing more than memories.

But the farmers vowed to come back stronger and have indicated that they are prepared to take on the challenge of becoming the breadbasket of the island to make up for the agriculture produce which will be missing from the market because of the damage to farms in other sections of the island.

One St Mary farmer, Steve Brown, told the Jamaica Observer that he lost millions of dollars of crops while his customers in the Corporate Area, and even those in the parish, now face a shortage of produce.

Brown said he grew mainly Irish potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, plantains, melons, and cane on his five-acre farm which was ravaged by Melissa.

“Right now I am looking for some assistance to get back to the farm. I use a workman on the farm so I want some help there as the farm is not turning over anything now,” said Brown.

He told the Observer that since Melissa he has started putting in some cash crops to get produce to the market and ensure some earning as he remains resolute.

“Six months from now I will be back on my feet,” said Brown as he declared that he will be working assiduously on his farm and juggle wherever he can.

“I am strong and resilient, and I will bounce back,” declared Brown.

In the meantime, a group of farmers from Coffee Piece in south-east St Mary, instead of being in their farms, were gathered at a local community shop to discuss plans for moving forward.

The Coffee Piece farmers said they are facing an uphill battle to recover; however, they are determined to bounce back.

“Me fi reap this month going into December and everything was damaged. I had 800 plantains, 300 that I just planted, and everything gone down. Cucumber that I planted to catch the Christmas season gone… everything gone,” said Rentford Davis.

He told the Observer that the St Mary farmers will need assistance to start over, which will take at least six months.

According to Davis, his colleagues are confident that they will now have to take up the mantle of becoming the breadbasket for the country as St Elizabeth recuperates.

“In a sense, the only thing that Melissa left with us is faith…so we have to do what we have to do,” added Davis.

He said the farmers will need support from the Government, and a grant to help them replant would be appreciated.

“The grant would help us pay someone to help plough and clear the farm. We need seeds, fertilisers and technical support to get our farms back on track,” Davis said.

St Mary farmer Steve Brown lost millions of dollars in crops in Melissa but is confident that he will be back on his feet in six months. (Photo: Ingrid Henry)

This hand of plantain was all one St Mary farmer saved from his field (Photo: Ingrid Henry)