THE ALLEGED CRIMINAL syndicate attacking the fields of farmers is a potentially ruinous blow to a sector reeling from a prolonged drought and water restrictions, agriculturalists say.
And the head of the umbrella body for various farming associations says Government needs to urgently put praedial larceny legislation in place to stamp out the practice.
In addition, chief executive officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society, James Paul, suggested that closer scrutiny be paid to people selling at the numerous markets to ensure they were reputable licensed farmers.
He made the comments to the DAILY NATION yesterday in the wake of reports that crop thieves were now organising themselves into groups and targeting large farms and their produce in St George.
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