The Agriculture Ministry says it will be monitoring the situation in St. Catherine, Clarendon, and Portland, in light of drought conditions.

The Met Service has said Portland is under a drought watch, while St. Catherine and Clarendon are under a drought alert.

The Met Service says for July to September the forecast is for a high chance of warmer than normal temperatures, with below normal rainfall, and this could mean worsening drought conditions.

In an interview with Irie FM News this afternoon, minister without portfolio, JC Hutchinson says climate change is impacting the weather pattern outside of the traditional dry season.

He says although some crops in those 3 parishes are at risk due to the drought, the impact would be minimal as adequate irrigation is in place.

In the meantime, farmers in St. Elizabeth are already experiencing drought.

Mr. Hutchinson says the ministry will be assisting affected farmers.

And, Member of Parliament for St. Elizabeth South West, Floyd Green says government has committed to assisting residents of the constituency affected by drought.

It’s reported that sections of St. Elizabeth have been experiencing drought for the past 2 months.

Mr. Green says many households and farms are in urgent need of water, and he wants the Ministries of Agriculture, Local Government and Economic Growth to jointly roll out, a drought intervention programme for the parish.

He says ministers Audley Shaw, Desmond McKenzie and Karl Samuda have already committed to remedy the situation, and that as MP, he will be assisting in this effort, through his constituency development fund.

Mr. Green also wants a coordinated water trucking schedule for drought hit communities in the constituency.

He says the national irrigation commission, national water commission and the St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation should jointly produce a schedule for trucking water to the most affected areas, including Pedro Plains and Mountainside.