More than 100 farmers in and around the Blue Mountain range are gearing up to fight forest fires head-on.
In addition to the best land husbandry practices that farmers and communities will learn for the sustainable management of the watershed management units, these key partners will also get the 411 in fire prevention and mangement.
Numerous uncontrolled forest fires all but gutted communities like Mavis Bank, Content, Lime Tree, Craige Hill, Robertsfield and Westphalia. The Yallahs Hope projet will, with support from the Jamaica Fire Brgiade and the Forestry Department, train some 120 farmers how to prevent and manage the flames.
Farmers who sign up to be part of the Farmer Field School which is led by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) will learn alternatives to the slash and burn method of clearing lands for planting. They will also do practical exercises in creating fire lines to prevent the spread of fires and minimize property destruction and loss of lives.
The fire management training will build farmers’ ability to act as first aid fire fighters – creating fire safety watch groups and curtailing fires until the Fire Brigade and the Jamaica Defence Force can be on location.
It will take years for our farmers to fully recover from the 2015 fires. Coffee farmers especially will need at least 3 years before they see any production. Through this training, however, it is hoped that the next time around, our farmers and communities will be better equiped to tackle the fiery flames.
Farmers Fighting Fires
One Farm at a Time