Farmers continue to register for COVID-19/ Drought 2020 relief

Registration of farmers for support from the impacts of COVID-19 and Drought 2020 continued yesterday at 30 registration centres across the country.

Drought 2020 has been recorded as one of the worst droughts experienced in this country in the last 50 years, impacting on both crop and livestock farmers. An assessment by the Ministry of Agriculture, on the impact of Drought 2020 on the agriculture sector, places damage and loss at EC$16,000,000.00, a release from the ministry said.

“To compound an already challenging period, COVID-19 has caused uncertainty in farm workers’ timetables, and interrupted trade, thus impacting on both production and productivity. Further, farmers and traders have witnessed increased restrictions at regional and international borders, and delays in the supply of inputs, as a result of impacted shipping lines,” the release said.

Saboto Caesar, Minister of Agriculture noted that the government continues to deliver vital support to farmers in a bid to further strengthen this critical production sector during the COVID 19 pandemic.

“Our farmers, fishers, traffickers and technicians, have made us all proud – St Vincent and the Grenadines can boast of its food security to the world,” he added.

The objective of the registration exercise is to capture the information in an expedient manner, the release said.
Farmers wishing to apply for COVID-19/ Drought 2020 relief, are asked to register at the following places: Barrouallie Community Centre; Bequia Learning Resource Centre; Biabou Learning Resource Centre; Campden Park Community Centre; Chateaubelair Community Centre; Colonarie Learning Resource Centre; Dauphine Community Centre; Dorsetshire Hill Primary School; Dumbarton Agriculture Station; Kingstown (Ministry of Agriculture Headquarters); Fancy Government School; La Croix Boxing Plant; Langley Park Palletisation Centre; Lauders Agro-processing Centre; Layou Community Centre; Pamenos Burke Primary School; Park Hill Primary School; Richland Park Government School; Rillan Hill Learning Resource Centre; Rivulet Agriculture Station; Rose Hall Community Centre; Rose Bank Community Centre; Sans Souci Learning Resource Centre; Sandy Bay Learning Resource Centre; South Rivers Learning Resource Centre; Stubbs Community Centre; Troumaca Primary School; Union Island Learning Resource Centre; Vermont Community Centre; and Wallilabou Agriculture Station.

Registration takes place weekdays from 10am to 3:30pm. Registration ends on Friday, August 21, 2020. Farmers are asked to register in person with both a national and farmer’s identification card.