KINGSTON – The Ministry of Agriculture says that it will be spending J$100-million on a programme aimed at mitigating the impact of drought on farmers and to gain at least a five-per cent growth in food production.
The announcement was made recently by Minister of Agriculture, Audley Shaw during the virtual launch of Farmer’s Month.
He said the programme which will be carried out over a 12-month period, will target the planting of vegetables, fruits, condiments, roots and tubers as well as the rearing of small ruminants.
“The programme will be implemented in critical parishes islandwide, targeting in excess of 13 000 farmers as the ministry looks to stimulate growth. We have every intention of ramping up production in all areas of agriculture.”
He also outlined agricultural initiatives being put in place in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
According to Shaw, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority has begun the islandwide distribution of agricultural inputs under the J$240-million stimulus programme, aimed at purchasing excess produce from farmers.
He said that focus is now being placed on ramping up production and productivity, providing irrigation and other critical infrastructure, incorporating climate-smart approaches, and instituting comprehensive marketing and distribution programmes as well as “an invigorated agro-processing programme”.
(CMC)