Farmers to benefit from $700 million in Hurricane Beryl relief

  

Agriculture Minister Floyd Green has announced a multi-million dollar assistance initiative for farmers affected by Hurricane Beryl.

 

Speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, the agriculture minister said the damage to the agriculture sector following Hurricane Beryl has ballooned to $4.7 billion.

 

Mr. Green said $700 million has been allocated to drive the initial recovery with Members of Parliament allotted $150 million to aid with recovery in their constituencies.

 

"This initial tranche will be used to purchase critical items urgently needed and will be dispersed through RADA, NIC, AIC, and JAS. The allocation includes $210 million which will focus on crop recovery, $90 million for our vegetable lines, $40 million towards our banana and plantain farmers and $80 million towards other crops, especially yam and our coffee farmers."

 

In relation to livestock, $60 million will be allocated to help farmers rebuild, while $26 million will go towards rebuilding of livestock infrastructure. 

 

"We are allocating an initial sum of $29 million, largely to supply fishing wire; we are allocating $30 million towards fertiliser support; $55 million towards infrastructure support; $20 million towards irrigation support; $50 million towards land preparation; and clearance and $70 million towards farm roads. That amounts to $550 million," Mr. Green outlined.