?We have decided to give up the farm’

As parts of Jamaica endure meteorological drought conditions and prolonged dry spells that are lowering water-storage levels and disrupting supply systems, small farmers across St Catherine are counting heavy losses and questioning how much longer they can remain in agriculture. The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) estimates that drought-related losses have exceeded 1,600 hectares islandwide, amounting to almost $900 million and affecting more than 16,000 farmers.