J$157-million relief for farmers affected by recent heavy rains
Vanassa McKenzie / Our Today
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining Floyd Green says the Government will be initiating a flood recovery response programme to provide $157 million to address the needs of farmers who have been impacted by the recent heavy rains.
The agriculture minister, who made this announcement in Parliament on Tuesday, December 5, outlined that under the programme, J$64 million will be provided to tackle the damage to farm roads in St Andrew, St Catherine, and St Thomas.
Another J$15 million will be allocated to assist farmers who experienced loss of their livestock.
“We will also be providing J$8 million to treat with small tools and equipment replacement and we will be providing J$70 million to help our vegetable and crop farmers,” he added.
The agriculture minister underscored that damage assessment of the recent heavy rains revealed that crop losses amounted to J$173 million, which impacted more than 2,000 farmers.
Livestock losses stood at J$26 million, affecting 550 farmers, while infrastructure damage accounted for an estimated J$64 million.
“The worst hit areas include Kingston, St Andrew, St Catherine, and St Thomas and they experienced significant agricultural losses. In fact, a total of 410 hectares of crops including vegetables, fruits and condiments were lost. Livestock losses were also significant with 160,500 broilers, 1,460 layers, 70 pigs, 34 sheep, and 47 goats being lost in the flood rains,” Green said in Parliament.
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