I want ‘money in the farmer’s hand’ – PM

The Farmer Support Company has shown improvement in distributing funds to farmers in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

This point was made by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves this week, as he restated his desire to see “money in the farmers’ hands.”

According to Gonsalves, since the initiation {{more}}of the farmer support credit programme, approximately 1,221 persons have made applications for funds amounting to $11.8 million. However, so far there have only been 444 approvals and the total disbursement of funds, which includes funds to the Arrowroot Association, is $1.4 million.

“This is an improvement [over] the last time when I spoke …but we still need to do better. I’m still not satisfied. Better than last time, so we have made progress, but we need to do better still,” the Prime Minister said.

“As I had indicated before, one person for instance applied for three million dollars. Clearly, this is not what it is about. Fellas apply for $300,000 and so on, so even though you say 11.8 [million], you must understand that there are some which are just not for here; for somewhere else.”

Distribution of fertilizer from the Kingdom of Morocco, as well as from the Agricultural Input Warehouse, continues to take place.

“In relation to the fertilizer, 4,262 sacks of fertilizer have been distributed and farmers have received from the Morocco fertilizer; 2,217 farmers have received fertilizer there, but we have also distributed 1,126 sacks from the FSC as a grant and we have more fertilizer down at the input warehouse,” Gonsalves said.

The farmer support credit programme offers farmers the opportunity to obtain loans through a $6 million credit facility, in an effort to improve their businesses.(BK)