Africa-Press – Cape verde. Farmers on Brava Island today declared this year’s agricultural production “lost” due to the lack of regular rainfall and the increasing invasion of invasive animal species.
In statements to Inforpress, farmer Paulo Sena emphasized that last year they managed to harvest “something,” but this year, due to the lack of rain and also an infestation of wild chicken pests, the same did not happen.
He stressed that the beginning of this agricultural year was “quite deficient,” since, in addition to the labor being “scarce and expensive,” the lack of rain completely hampered production.
“November 1st, All Saints’ Day, is approaching, when in Brava we traditionally have a snack with corn and other vegetables from the year’s agricultural production, but this year there is nothing, and the solution is to buy from Fogo Island if there is any,” he said.
In turn, farmer Carlos Bango also considered that this year’s agricultural year began with “many changes,” and that there were many challenges during the work, from pest infestations that damaged a large part of the sowing, to the lack of rain.
“This year, practically on Brava Island, there are no agricultural products, and in some locations where they managed to harvest some things, it’s in the higher areas, and even then, the yield is very poor,” he considered.
Regarding pasture for animals, he emphasized that it is guaranteed, but with some challenges, as there is a greater quantity in the higher areas than in the lower areas, where it is “very poor.”
“In this sense, I think urgent measures should be taken, otherwise we risk entering the year with low agricultural productivity, which is one of the island’s livelihoods,” he concluded.
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