RADA calls for ‘extreme caution’ in bush fire advisory amid drought

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), is urging farmers to take immediate action to protect their farms, crops, livestock, and livelihoods from bush fires as hot, dry, and windy conditions continue to affect the agricultural sector.

The warning comes as the country continues to experience drought conditions in several parishes and bush fires continue to be reported islandwide.

The authority is instructing farmers to immediately discontinue the use of slash-and-burn methods for land preparation, noting that fires used for clearing land can quickly spread beyond control and threaten neighbouring farms, forests and communities.