Cholera Fear Could Halt Haitian Rice Harvest
Farmers worried about water surrounding their crops may not harvest the grain.
Compiled by staff
Published: Dec 30, 2010
It's like nature is adding insult to injury in Haiti with news this week that farmers there are scared to harvest their rice crop out of fear that cholera may have contaminated their fields, according to a United Nations press statement.
The cholera epidemic which has killed more than 2,700 people and infected more than 130,000 have been infected by the disease.
The United Nationals Food and Agriculture Organization says it is working with the Haitian ministries of agriculture and health to provide hygiene information to farmers. The agency's preliminary assessment indicates that many farmers are avoiding the harvest, fearing that the water in the rivers and canals that irrigate their paddies and other fields might be infected.
There are also reports of consumers avoiding food produced in regions affected by the outbreak, which could further damage trade in ag produce. To get the message to workers FAO is providing information to radio stations in the country so farmers may hear the information.
The effects of the cholera outbreak on agriculture were compounded by the November floods brought on by hurricane Tomas, which damaged farming infrastructure and damaged up to 78,000 hectares of crops.
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Tagged: Harvest, farming, United Nations, Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO
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