Hurricane Beryl uproots up to 100% of selective crops in SVG

Hurricane Beryl, apart from the destruction and life loss, has affected the Caribbean region in several other ways. According to Caribbean Agricultural Research & Development Institute (CARDI), Beryl has caused loss of assets in the agricultural sector of St Vincent and the Grenadines. The loss summed up to 80-100 percent of certain crops grow over the region.

CARDI has reported that during the recent meetings with the farmers under the impact of Beryl on the Island of St Vincent and the Grenadines, they were enlightened about the mentioned fact.

They stated that the preliminary findings revealed the fact of about 80 to 100 percent destruction of crops such as plantains, bananas, avocados, coconuts, and a variety of vegetables. Several of these crops were ready to be exported to the market, losing which left the livelihoods of farmers endangered.

However, on the bright side, CARDI reported that although there was loss of the crops, farmers are finding a ray of hope as the destructive wind and downpour didn’t cause much damage to the underground crops like potato, sweet potato, dasheen, yam and cassava crops. The marketable part of these crops being underground, were unharmed.

Thus, the root crops have been identified to be suitable to cope with, prepare for, and recover from the climate-related disasters or natural disasters like storms and hurricanes. While assuring that the assessments to be done to determine the range, scale and impact of the tropical storm on the agricultural sector, CARDI said that it is absolute that the nation had significant loss and damage.

CARDI further stated that the officials at CARDI always remain committed to assist the islands affected, to restore production in the agricultural area while working with all stakeholders to build resilience.

The nations under the impact of the disaster can use as much help as possible to recover and climb back to the track.