Another EC$700,000 available for agriculture sector

Another EC$700,000 will be made available to the agricultural sector to assist in the rehabilitation program being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, following the passage of hurricane Tomas, last October.{{more}}

This was announced by Minster of Agriculture Montgomery Daniel, who last Thursday distributed 38 small ruminants (sheep and goats) to farmers who suffered the loss of animals.

This money will be used to assist in financing the “Operations Recovery and Rehabilitation” program, now being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that farms are back into production and that the effects due to the interruptions to their income will be less impacting.

This program has already assisted other farmers (rootcrops, vegetable, banana, plantain and treecrops) and is now reaching out to the livestock farmers, who again were affected during the flash flooding last month. The Minster announced that, already, 150 Barbados Black Belly Sheep, as well as some goats, are to be imported for distribution. This, he added, is being complemented by the continuation of the program, which offers livestock feed to farmers at half price. The animals distributed were of pedigree stock, bred on the livestock stations at Belmont and Rabacca, which are sold and/or loaned to farmers as stud animals for short periods and may each be valued at over $400.

Chief Agricultural Officer Reuben Robertson implored the farmers to take care of the animals, which are to be used as studs for the purpose of multiplying and increasing the flock, as well as improving on the genetic pools. The distribution took place at the Dumbarton Agricultural Station.