The Barbados Association of Retailers, Vendors and Entrepreneurs (BARVEN) is calling for another Government bailout for crop farmers now enduring heavy losses due to recent heavy rains.
The Barbados Meteorological Services is reporting a steady increase in seasonal rain. Most was as a result of the passage of four tropical waves and two shear lines. Across the island, totals ranged from 100 to 256.6 millimetres.
BARVEN president Alister Alexander told the Weekend Nation: “We have a time where the rains come and wash out the crops, and then you have the alternative when it’s the drought.”
He said the heavy rains and prolonged saturated conditions had done extensive damage to crops like tomatoes, leafy green vegetables and cucumbers. He added some farmers also reported losing watermelons, cantaloupes, eggplants, beets, carrots and beans. (JRN)