Lettuce, cabbage, to go up

VEGETABLE PRODUCERS in Central Trinidad have been hard hit by the widespread flooding which occurred when Hurricane Ivan passed just north of Trinidad and Tobago last week. Crops, such as tomatoes, cabbage, sweet peppers, pumpkins and lettuce, were severely damaged leaving producers with very limited crops, and in some cases empty handed. The development means that consumers are now likely to pay hefty prices for their produce at the local markets. Chief executive officer of the National Agricultural Management and Development Company (Namdevco) Samaroo Dowlath told Newsday that crops were damaged in areas where the flood waters settled. He said that because of the losses experienced by the farmers, market prices would increase and some goods would become scarce.

He noted that what made it worse was that some of these same farmers experienced flooding in June of this year. He said that while some sort of relief is given by the Government, it was not enough to replace an entire lost crop. He noted that in some cases the farmer may not fully recover for quite some time, and would have to lessen the size of his crops until he recovers financially before making another sizable investment. With regards to the compensatory package for registered farmers, Dowlath explained that most of the farmers get frustrated by the process, which takes some time to complete. He said that there are sometimes long delays in processing the application, and receiving compensation.

Dowlath also took the opportunity to call on unregistered farmers to regularise their status, since if they are not registered, they would not be recognised, nor would they receive any compensation for their losses. He said that no registration fee was required for membership, and noted that even farmers who are planting on leased lands could acquire some form of temporary membership. On the issue of Works Minister Franklin Khan’s announcement to crack down on street vending after the fatal accident that took the lives of a D’Abadie mother and son, Dowlath said that Namdevco welcomes the development. He stated that the practice was an unsanitary one, which left people open to all types of food borne diseases, since these produce were being sold at the side of the streets, and highways. Dowlath noted that the Minister’s initiative had the support of Namdevco.