Fire Destroys Acres Of Blue Mountain Coffee

KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Norman Grant, says coffee farmers in the Blue Mountains have lost millions of dollars due to recent fires in the area.

Grant, a government senator, who is also the Chief Executive Officer for the Mavis Bank Coffee factory said, so far the farmers have lost over J$200 million  (One Jamaica dollar =US$0.008 cents) and that figure is expected to climb.

Over 150 acres went up in flames in the rural community of Mavis Bank, just on the outskirts of the Corporate Area.

“I have been living in Mavis Bank all my life and this is the worst fire I have experienced,” Grant told the Jamaica Observer newspaper.

“It has affected the spirit of the farmers,” Grant said, noting that Government assistance is needed if farmers are to rebound quickly.

The fire comes at a time when the industry has embarked on an initiative to increase coffee production from 150,000 boxes to 400,000 boxes over the next three to four years.

The Coffee Industry Board has undertaken an investigation to determine the number of farmers affected and the findings will be submitted to the agriculture ministry.

The fire that has been burning in the hilly terrain has also destroyed several homes. Up to late Saturday, five families were left homeless.

Although now under control, the head of the Jamaica Fire Brigade in the Corporate Area, Superintendent Sean Martin says the fire fighters are frustrated because newly lit fires are appearing in the area by persons trying to clear land for agriculture.

He said 40 soldiers from the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) are working with the more than 20 fire fighters to keep the situation under control.