Farmers Brace for Unpredictable Weather: What to Expect Until September!

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is advising farmers throughout Jamaica to get ready for a range of weather conditions anticipated over the coming months. As the region shifts from the La Niña to the El Niño climate phenomenon, drier and hotter weather is expected to prevail. Francine Webb, Senior Plant Health and Food Safety Officer at RADA, highlighted that the latest forecast from the Meteorological Service of Jamaica suggests a drier-than-normal wet season, emphasizing the importance of water conservation for farmers. "The data we have indicates that the months of April, May, and June will likely be drier than the usual conditions leading into the second wet season. Although some rain may occur, this combination reinforces the need for water conservation, and we must be ready for various outcomes," she explained to JIS News. Webb elaborated that for the April to June timeframe, certain western and northern parishes, such as St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, St James, Trelawny, St Ann, and St Mary, have a 40 to 45 percent chance of experiencing below-average rainfall compared to the historical average of the last 30 years. This trend is similarly noted in southern parishes like Manchester, Clarendon, and St Catherine, which face a 45 to 50 percent likelihood of below-normal rainfall. Kingston and St Andrew, along with St Thomas and Portland, are also expected to encounter similar conditions, with rainfall probabilities 45 to 50