Additionally, he said 99 farmers in St. Andrew and St. Thomas have sustained an estimated $20.9 million loss as a result of bush fires, impacting coffee, fruit trees as well as farm buildings, goats and pastureland.
Despite crop production being severely affected by the sharp decline in rainfall, the Agriculture Minister said there is no need for increased imports of produce "as our valued farmers have been responding to the need for increased production and, with the assistance provided, are expanding production in our irrigated areas."
He said the ministry, through RADA, is spending $15 million to assist farmers while "a proper assessment is being done to determine further assistance or intervention which we are going to have to target from our productivity incentive scheme."
A further $19 million will be allocated by the Agriculture Ministry to assist farmers purchase supplies to increase crop production.
The funds will be disbursed by Members of Parliament.
Source - http://rjrnewsonline.com
