The Tribune

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

A LOCAL farmer has expressed disappointment over the rampant theft of produce and goods from his property, which has increased since the beginning of the pandemic.

Phil Davis Jr, president of Eden Farming Club, told The Tribune yesterday that subsistence farmers are becoming discouraged as thieves serve as a large threat to their way of life, as the goods produced make them targets.

Mr Davis said fellow farmers have vocalised similar challenges, noting that they are faced with the reality of accepting the loss of goods or increasing protection measures which will contribute to an increase in pricing.

“Most of the people that I speak with, who do their community yards and farms (said) it’s a major issue,” he told The Tribune yesterday.

“Either between wild dogs getting on properties killing livestock or people just coming and taking their produce off the trees. Doesn’t make any sense,” he added.

Commercial and subsistence farmers have expressed these challenges on numerous occasions, having previously called on the government to provide financial assistance to help secure their properties.

While disappointed in the increase in agricultural theft, the board director of the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation said he is weighing the pros and cons to determine his way forward.

“It’s discouraging within the whole Eden Farming Club,” he said yesterday.

“I try to promote to people to grow into their yards, but if it’s going to cause you to be a target, or have your home targeted because they (thieves) see something and then they see something else, and they get that chip in their head that ‘it’s alright, I have already taken, so I could possibly take something else.’

“That’s the pros and cons, just weighing it out right now,” he continued.

In a series of Facebook posts, Mr Davis expressed his frustration with the trespassers, noting that his most recent ordeal was with coconut vendors.

He noted that the coconut vendors are stealing the fruit to make money, however, it contributes to his loss in produce.

In explaining his dissatisfaction, he said: “Something seriously needs to happen before thieves discourage all of the farmers. It’s not worth the costs of security and loss of produce to run and operate on a farm. And the little that you grow in the comfort of your yard makes it a target and ultimately unsafe for you.”

Due to the challenges Mr Davis is faced with, yesterday he cut down his coconut tree as it is on the outskirts of his property and will likely prevent the recurrence of intruders.

Mr Davis noted that the trespassers have also stolen other produce on numerous occasions.