Christ Church Farmers Report Crop Damage After Severe Weather System in Barbados

At least two farmers from Christ Church have reported substantial crop damage after the weather system that affected Barbados over the past few days.

The Barbados Meteorological Services confirmed that a surface-to-low-level shear line passed over the island on Sunday night and into Monday, triggering severe flooding, scattered thunderstorms, and frequent fork lightning, particularly in southern districts. A severe thunderstorm watch was issued late Sunday night.

Farmers Troy Bakker and Sham Ramnarin told Barbados TODAY of their experiences of the damage to their crops. Both expressed hope that not all would be lost.

“I was impacted very negatively. As you can see, there is a lot of water in the field, and I’ve lost watermelon, cucumbers, and butternut squash,” said Bakker, adding that he lost over 1 000 pounds of watermelon, which retails at $1.75 per pound.

He further revealed that the half-acre of butternut squash he had planted, which should have yielded around 6,000 pounds, was destroyed. Butternut squash typically retails for $1.50 per pound.

“You have to take the good with the bad, but that’s just the way it is. All was not lost; I still have some okras that weathered the storm. The island also needs water, so even though farmers suffer losses, the rain is still good for the country. Giving up is not an option, so I’ll plant again,” said the farmer from Ealing Grove.

Over in Chancery Lane, Ramnarin reported his fields were waterlogged and he expressed concerns about the potential impact on his young crops.

“It’s nature, so you can’t complain because there’s nothing you can do about it. First, we had the heat, and now the rain. The rain sets you back from preparing the ground to plant,” he said.

“I have young watermelon, okra, eggplant, pumpkin, and butternut squash. I’ll have to wait for the water to dry out and see if the young plants pull through because the heat followed by sudden rain may affect them,” Ramnarin added.

Meanwhile, crop producers from one of the island’s largest farming districts, the Spring Hall Land Lease Project, reported that the rainfall in the north was not as intense, and they were spared the worst of the weather system.