THE METHODIST Church last month donated a quantity of fertilizer to the Ministry of Agriculture for distribution to farmers of pigs, poultry and small ruminants as they continue to recover following last year’s volcanic eruptions.

Making the hand over at the ministry on March 23, Superintendent minister of the Kingstown/ Chateaubelair Circuit, Rev Philbert Delaney said being aware of the devastation caused by the volcanic eruptions “… The Methodist church has over the past months been involved in giving assistance to different persons across the sector of the community, and this morning we want to do a special part in helping the farmers who …were displaced in one way or the other over the past months”. He promised that the church will continue to offer help to the farming community and hoped the donation “will go a long way in helping them to re-establish the very important industry that they are part of in the economic landscape of this country”.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Nerissa Gittens expressing gratitude said: “Our farmers…have been experiencing some difficulties since the eruptions and whatever help we can get to assist our farmers we are …grateful because especially now, things are not the way we want them to be.”

She pointed to the increasing cost of feeds and added that, “any sort of help we can get to help our farmers to get back on their feet so that their livelihoods can be restored we are indeed grateful”.