The National Irrigation Commission is urging farmers to engage in conservation practices, to save water as the country faces drought conditions.

Farmers are being advised to use mulch, practice effective weed control to eliminate competition for water, and to irrigate early in the day to reduce water used.

Chairman of the Commission Joseph Gyles, notes that while the drought is on in earnest, the commission has not reached the point where it needs to restrict water to farmers, as yet.

He says St. Elizabeth and Clarendon are the hardest hit by the drought.

Mr. Gyles is also encouraging livestock farmers to practice conservation methods to include, keeping animals in shaded areas to prevent them from becoming dehydrated.

The Chairman says the commission will be increasing its services to assist farmers in the affected areas.

St. Elizabeth, Manchester, Portland, Clarendon, St. Catherine, and parts of St. Mary are experiencing drought conditions, even as the island is expecting, below normal rainfall into September.