More than 400 farmers have benefitted from water supply provided by the National Irrigation Commission, NIC, since the start of the ongoing drought.
That’s according to agriculture minister, Floyd Green. He was speaking at the official opening of the farm road project in Newcombe Valley, St Elizabeth on Wednesday.
St Elizabeth is among seven parishes under water prohibition orders. Recently, the government announced an allocation of $60 million towards drought mitigation for farmers. This is in addition to the $149 million previously allocated.
Minister Green outlined measures being implemented to assist farmers.
Meanwhile, Minister Green says over 100 farming communities benefitted from the government’s farm road programme last year.
The 550-metre roadway was completed under last year’s farm road programme and serves approximately 38 hectares of cultivation. This includes farms producing watermelons, tomatoes, sweet peppers, cucumbers and other crops.
Livestock farmers raising goats and broiler chickens are also expected to benefit.
According to Minister Green, more farm road projects are in the works.
Floyd Green, Minister of Agriculture.
