Yellow yams, which were reaped from a farm in Sanguinetti, Clarendon. - George Henry

Farmers in Sanguinetti, Clarendon, are being discouraged due mainly to losses being incurred as a result of praedial larcenists.

The farmers told THE STAR they had invested several thousand dollars to get their farms up to standard, only for their produce, especially yellow yams, to be stolen.

Any formal report

The Spaldings police say they have not received any formal reports from the farmers. District Constable Harold Lindsay said, however, that the police would be looking out for persons who continued to engage in praedial larceny.

One farmer, Weston Brown, who has been farming yellow yam for over two decades, said two weeks ago, he and a friend went to his farm to reap the produce to sell to an exporter, but made a shocking discovery.

"Boss, when we arrived on the farm where I expected to reap over five hundred pounds to sell to a truckman, I saw where the crooks dug out more than the amount of yam I had intended to reap for sale. I could not believe my eyes! I almost fainted!" said Brown, crying.

Thousands of dollars

Brown said he had invested thousands of dollars in the farm, including costs incurred to purchase high-priced fertilisers and other chemicals. He said said several others are in his position, reeling from the effects of thieves.

Another farmer, Anthony Henry, said he was planting yams for the first time. He planted just over 40 hills of yellow yams. He said he was encouraged by the calls made by Government several months ago for Jamaicans to plant what we eat and eat what we grow. However, all that was dashed when he visited his farm Saturday. Henry said thieves dug out all 40 hills, forcing him to buy yam from the market.

He, as well as many other farmers who have suffered at the hands of praedial thieves, is appealing to the police to step up their efforts in catching those who are wreaking havoc on the crops planted by small farmers.

Despite their setback, the farmers said they will continue to plant yam and other crops, as they believe in producing for themselves.