Root out crop thieves

Crop thieves are quietly wrecking Barbados’ agricultural sector, making off with thousands of dollars in vegetables and livestock monthly.This charge was made yesterday by two farming groups – the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) and the National Union of Farmers (NUF).Both groups called for more positive police action to stem what they referred to as a rising tide of predial larceny that threatens to force some people out of farming and could discourage others from becoming farmers.The BAS’ chief executive officer, James Paul, and president of the NUF, Julian Dottin, raised concerns about crop and livestock theft and the possible impact on the farming community after more Press reports of larceny.Dottin warned that if the large-scale larceny continued more farmers would quit, more lands would be taken out of agriculture, food production would dwindle and Barbadians could be saddled by high-costing vegetable and meat imports.Dottin said his agency wanted to meet with Police Commissioner Darwin Dottin to discuss how to tackle the issue, but admitted that “there’s no simple, straightforward answer to this stealing”.He reported that in May and June thieves stole more than $10 000 worth of cassava from a Graeme Hall, St Michael research project involving the NUF, the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the Ministry of Agriculture.Some NUF farmers have also been complaining of livestock losses, he admitted.“Predial larceny has become a big business and it’s getting worse,” he told the WEEKEND NATION. “You have men coming in trucks and stealing your produce.“And it’s not just a small farmer thing – even the big plantations are feeling the pinch.“I think it is about time we catch somebody in the act and make an example of them as well as the people buying from them. No fine, just a prison term on conviction.”During a Press conference at the BAS’ Beckles Road, St Michael headquarters, Paul said the larceny situation had worsened, with thieves now targeting crops such as okras, which had largely escaped the ravages in the past.There was usually a “spike” in crop and livestock stealing around festivals, including Crop-Over, Easter and Christmas, when vegetables and meat were in great demand, he noted.He said the frequency of the attacks and the large volumes stolen were worrying factors.“It may be necessary to have people in the police force dedicated to rooting out pradial larceny,” he remarked. (TY)