Agriculture Ministry Provides $250 Million For Farmers Impacted By Tropical Storms

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is providing $250 million in relief support for farmers, who were impacted by the recent passage of Tropical Storms Grace and Ida.

The funds, which also aim to stimulate recovery in the agricultural sector, are being redirected from the Production Incentive Programme.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, in announcing the support in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (September 22), noted that the tropical storms that impacted the island in August, caused significant loss of crops, livestock and farmlands, and extensive damage to road and infrastructure.

Giving a breakdown of the allocation, he indicated that $100 million will go towards support for crop and livestock farmers. This is through the provision of planting materials such as seeds, pesticides, and other items, as well as key inputs for the poultry and small ruminant industries.

Minister Shaw noted that of the $100 million, a total of $28 million will be made available for distribution through the Members of Parliament (MPs).

He told the House that 29 constituencies have been identified with significant damage, and the MPs for these areas will be receiving $750,000 each.

MPs for 13 constituencies that have been identified with less substantial damage will receive $500,000 each.

The remaining $71 million will be disbursed under the recovery programmes being executed by the Rural Agricultural Development Agency (RADA).

Additionally, Minister Shaw said that $100 million will be provided to allow for a 15 per cent reduction in the price for four select fertiliser products that are most widely used by the farmers.

“The rising cost of fertiliser has been negatively impacting the cost of production for farmers,” he noted.

The Minister told the House that the price reduction will be applied at the point of purchase to registered farmers islandwide for a period effective October 1 to December 31, 2021, or until the $100 million is exhausted.

He noted that the Ministry will be working with Newport Fersan (Jamaica) Limited, the sole manufacturer of fertilisers in Jamaica and other fertiliser importers on this initiative.

Meanwhile, the remaining $50 million of the $250-million allocation will benefit plantain and banana farmers, through the acquisition of inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides.

“This support, which is to be provided through The Banana Board, is an immediate input to aid the quick recovery of the subsector as the Government considers further support based on available resources,” Minister Shaw said.

He indicated that an estimated 500 farms across the parishes of St. Mary, Portland, St. James, St. Thomas, and Clarendon, were affected by the storms. He noted that the estimated cost to resuscitate the industry over a period of nine months is $175.3 million.

Minister Shaw told the House that based on the assessment of the damage from the two tropical storms, the total estimated cost required for recovery of the agriculture sector is approximately $2 billion.

He said that the Ministry will be making the relevant representation for the required support towards the full recovery efforts.

He informed that through the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), extension officers have been mobilised and deployed to complete the ongoing assessment of the damage and to provide urgent technical support to the farmers.