Shelly-Ann Thompson, Staff Reporter

A disaster subcommittee has been established in the Ministry of Agriculture to provide farmers with information on how to mitigate against the effects of catastrophes.

Phillip Chung, chairman of the subcommittee, told The Gleaner yesterday that the body has already provided pamphlets on hurricane disaster preparedness to farmers.

"The aim of the agriculture disaster committee is to have a coordinated effort in the sector to prepare for disasters," said Chung.

To function at nat'l level

He added that the the committee's objective was also to function at a national level, similarly to the Office of Disaster Prepared-ness and Emergency Management.

A comprehensive agriculture disaster preparedness plan is being prepared to tackle issues, such as bush fires, droughts, pest epidemics, floods, landslides and hurricanes.

"We want to collaborate with all stakeholders, such as the police, fire brigade and the bauxite industry," Chung said.

Earlier this week, the committee, along with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, conducted an assessment of damage caused by a massive fire on farmlands in St Elizabeth.

Some $3.5 million in damage was caused, affecting more than 30 farmers in the breadbasket parish.

Speaking at the Jamaica Agricultural Society's 113th annual general meeting in Clarendon on Wednesday, Agriculture Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said the agriculture disaster committee was also formed to educate farmers on the best practices of agriculture.