Gareth Manning, Sunday Gleaner Reporter

The slow move to strengthen laws that protect farmers against praedial larceny is currently costing the agricultural sector in Westmoreland more than $4 million annually. Added to this is the recent price increases in agricultural inputs like fertiliser, transportation and oil.

In the communities of Darliston and Enfield in eastern Westmoreland, for example, close to $1 million worth of livestock has been stolen in six months. Theft of livestock cost the entire industry more than $60 million in 2006.

Devon Crooks, a livestock farmer, is counting his losses as his prized cow, valued at $95,000, was stolen and slaughtered by predators early last month.

"Is a lot of cow tief (thieves) 'round here. Dem stab my cow, cut out the belly and sell the meat," says Crooks, who was depending on the sale of his cow to prop up his family's income while he was away on the Canadian farm-work programme.

Raising cows is not easy, he says, but he has been chugging away at it for three years, only to have his best animal stolen.

"If the police dem would a only go out a night. But dem seh dem no have no vehicle," Crooks relates.

A few metres from Crooks' house, we meet another farmer whose cows had also been stolen and slaughtered. He, however, asked that his name not be published to protect the lives of his family members. His three cows, valued at well over $200,000, have been stolen. Like Crooks, he reported the matter to the police, but so far, no one has been apprehended.

He believes the perpetrators are not solely outsiders, but include people from within the community who know "what people have" and may have colluded with outsiders to steal the animals. A significant portion, he believes, is being traded with Haitians out at sea for guns.

blaming loopholes

The farmer is blaming the loopholes and lack of enforcement of the law for the prevalence of theft in these areas. He says butchers, especially, should be brought to book for purchasing stolen meat.

"Dem need fi put more pressure pon the butchers them. Plenty a dem know that is tief dem tief the meat, because dem get it cheaper and some a dem know exactly where the meat coming from," he contends.

He says butchers should be able to prove from whom and where they purchase meat and adds that the Government should probably consider putting a slaughterhouse in the main farming districts of each parish.

"If a man a go kill a cow, him must mek a report to di police station as to what colour cow him a go kill. Dat way you can track di butcher who a buy tiefing meat. It nah go solve di problem, but at least it wi cut it down," he says.

gareth.manning@gleanerjm.com