$3 billion plan for recovery of agriculture to be rolled out - Green

Agriculture Minister Floyd Green says a $3-billion plan is to be rolled out to help the sector recover from Hurricane Melissa, which has caused $29.5 billion in losses.

Green, giving an update on Melissa in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, said full details are to come, noting that the Agricultural Disaster Recovery Task Force, which is to centrally coordinate assessments, relief, and recovery, has been established.

He informed Parliament that approximately 41,390 hectares of farmland have been affected, impacting over 70,000 farmers, pointing out that approximately 1,251,410 animals have been lost.

Green said, as an immediate action, J$450 million from the remaining Production Incentive Programme is being redirected to emergency recovery, including replanting, restocking, and land preparation.

Green said the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) will this week start the distribution of 40 million worth of seeds.

Additionally, another J$80 million has been allocated for emergency procurement, with J$50 million for seeds and J$30 million for agro-chemicals.

In an attempt to remove the barriers to production and to rapidly expand the acres under production, the RADA Tractor Service will provide free land preparation for the next six months.

All seeds and planting material available through the Bodles Agricultural Research Station in St Catherine and RADA nurseries will be free for the next three months.

While the hardest-hit western parishes are cleared and repaired, Green said focus will be given to early planting in the least-affected areas, especially Eastern Jamaica and at agro-parks to feed the nation now.

He said the Agro-Investment Corporation will lead an initial wave: 200 acres of sweet pepper, 150 acres of cassava, 150 acres of sweet potato, 200 acres of open-field vegetables, 150 acres of hot pepper, and 150 acres of escallion.

Green said a moratorium on lease payments will be implemented for farmers on agro-park lands so that cash-flow pressures are eased while production is restarted.

Green also indicated that the Sugar Company of Jamaica (SCJ) will be providing an initial $5 million in land preparation for farmers who occupy SCJ lands.

Additionally, Members of Parliament are to be given funds to help registered farmers in their constituencies.

Green said the initiation allocations will range from $1 million to $3 million, depending on the severity of the damage.

Also, the agriculture ministry is to undertake emergency repairs to priority farm roads so that communities are reconnected and produce can move efficiently to market.

Green said strategic programmes around livestock will be implemented, livestock and including focusing on quickly revitalising the poultry sector through an initial allocation of $40 million.

For the fisheries sector, Green said that several of the most affected parishes have suffered infrastructural damage, estimated at J$2.74 billion.

In Whitehouse, Bluefields, Galleon, and Calabash Bay, there is complete devastation of all fishing infrastructure.

The aquaculture sector suffered about 36,000,000 in losses, affecting at least 41% of fish farmers.

Approximately 3,289 vessels were damaged, 45% of the national fleet, with losses estimated at J$2.98 billion.

The total impact on the fisheries sector is J$5.76 billion, said Green.

To help, generators have been dispatched to the Marine Fuel Stations in Alligator Pond and Montego Bay, which are expected to become operational tomorrow.

A generator is also to be dispatched to Great Bay by the end of the week.

Additionally, Mobile Marine Fuel Stations are being put in place for Black River and Whitehouse.

Further, a programme is to be undertaken this week to provide wire, net and rope distribution to fishers at beaches where they are able to go out.

The agriculture ministry is also to with gear and vessel replacement, clearing debris at landing sites, and restoring utilities and safe access so that fishing communities can resume operations quickly.

Noting that fishers have lost their fishing licences and IDs, the ministry is to replace these items as well as implement a six-month moratorium on licensing and ID fees.

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