Abstract: Praedial larceny which involves stealing agricultural produce and livestock continues to be a persistent problem in Jamaica that damages agricultural output and destroys farmers' income and threatens the country's food security. The practice of praedial larceny developed from colonial times and worsened through modern social inequalities to become a widespread and mentally distressing problem for Jamaican farming communities. This research examines praedial larceny through psychological and socio-cultural lenses to study its historical development and public perceptions and evaluate present-day legal restrictions. The research uses a mixed-methods design which integrates both qualitative interviews and focus group discussions with quantitative survey data from farmers and agricultural science educators and law enforcement officials and rural residents. The research reveals both major financial losses of JMD $25 billion in 2024 and psychological impacts that include anxiety elevation and distrust growth and social fragmentation. The study investigates how stakeholders understand current legal systems while collecting opinions about prevention methods from local communities. The research focuses on the direct experiences of those impacted to develop policy changes and community-based solutions which will reduce praedial larceny effectively. The research findings will help create responsive enforcement systems which strengthen Jamaica's agricultural resilience through context-specific legislative mechanisms.
Keywords: Praedial larceny, Agricultural Security; Rural Crime Prevention; Surveillance Technology; Farm Traceability Systems.
Title: Praedial Larceny and Its Psychological and Socio-Cultural Influence on Jamaican Farmers
Author: Salvation Ifechukwude Atalor, Donald Stoddart, Morris-Francis Sherill, Sharmaine Tapper, Estwick Noel, Dahlia Stoddart
International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations
ISSN 2348-1218 (print), ISSN 2348-1226 (online)
Vol. 13, Issue 3, July 2025 - September 2025
Page No: 1-17
Research Publish Journals
Website: www.researchpublish.com
Published Date: 09-July-2025
