Bog Hole farmers nervous as hurricane season starts

Farmers in the Bog Hole community of northern Clarendon are living on hope and a prayer as the hurricane season gets into high gear. Anief Francis, who describes himself as a philanthropist, says he spends most of his time in the community working with farmers and the various groups trying to implement "back-up plans" for when disaster sets in.

"Our geographic location is set up in a way that once there is a hurricane, there will be losses. There is no hiding from it. Bog Hole just can't escape. We are in a hole, so water comes from all different areas here, all the way from Manchester," he said.

Francis said that there has never been a hurricane that hasn't affected the community.

Patrick Weir, a farmer of more than 30 years, says there is no shaking the trepidation now that the hurricane season has started. Weir, who owns a tractor and other equipment, does farming on a large scale.

"I have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars due to the hurricane. There are times when I lose everything, which is why you must set aside savings to start afresh," he shared.

Mixed Blessing

Weir said that farming in the community comes with mixed blessing as on one hand, the hurricane wipes out their hard labour, but then there are times they come out smiling. "Farming here has its advantages and disadvantages. Disadvantage to us when we get flood, but the source of the water is what we use to do our irrigation. It's a gamble," he said.

Now in the hurricane season, Weir said he has already started "fretting", and he has also not gone out "full force" into his farming activities in an effort to minimise the loss.

Sophia Fuller, who farms in the neighbouring community off Anderson Town, which faces the same issues as Bog Hole, said she is now part of a newly formed farmers' group, which sees them getting together in facing the same challenges.

Commenting on the damage that often comes from hurricanes, Fuller said that anyone who doesn't have a passion for farming will throw in the towel.

"Anderson Town is a flooding area. When it rains, the water settles and you lose your crops. Most time you go out with your all and don't get any returns," she said.

Looking on the brighter side of life, Fuller said that what keeps them going is the knowledge that there won't always be a hurricane, so they enjoy the good times while they last.

Francis, for his part, wants to see a better drainage system created in the northern Clarendon communities.

"If that is in place, there will be a better source for the water to flow through. Right now, the farmers are just taking risk. Farming in Bog Hole is a gamble. They gamble that they might plant and it will be successful as well as they might plant and then receive three days of rain and the entire crop is covered."