Preliminary estimates put the damage to the island’s agriculture sector from Hurricane Beryl, at just over $1 billion. That’s according to Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Floyd Green.
We have more in this report from Daina Davy.
Floyd Green says Beryl has dealt a $1 billion blow to the agricultural sector.
Minister Green says livestock farmers have also been significantly impacted, especially those producing poultry.
Turning to the fisheries sector, the minister says preliminary reports indicate that 10 to 15 percent of fishing boats and on-shore infrastructure such as sheds, have been damaged.
Several fishers also lost fishing pots.
Entities under the ministry were also impacted by Hurricane Beryl, with the National Irrigation Commission’s renewable energy site in St. Elizabeth sustaining significant damage.
Mr Green says the facility lost at least 20 percent of its solar panels and has been unable to pump water to farmers due to the electricity outage in the parish.
Losses have also been recorded at Bodles Agricultural Research Station in St Catherine.
Minister Green says all crops have suffered damage, with 90 per cent of producers across the southern parishes losing crops and infrastructure.
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