The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining has launched a $100-million restoration initiative to revive banana and plantain manufacturing following widespread crop destruction brought on by Hurricane Melissa on October 28.
In keeping with officers, the programme will assist roughly 5,000 farmers and goal the rehabilitation of greater than 2,500 hectares of farmland affected by the storm. The trouble will probably be executed by way of the Banana Board in partnership with the Rural Agricultural Growth Authority (RADA).
Portfolio Minister Floyd Inexperienced stated help will probably be distributed based mostly on verified discipline assessments and farm measurement to make sure honest and efficient allocation of sources. Farmers will obtain fertiliser and different inputs aimed toward dashing up the restoration of manufacturing. He famous {that a} comparable post-hurricane assist mannequin used after Hurricane Beryl delivered sturdy outcomes.
The announcement was made throughout a press briefing on the Ministry’s head workplace situated at Hope Gardens in St Andrew.
Officers estimate that broken banana and plantain fields would usually take between six and eight months to return to full manufacturing. Nonetheless, the Ministry expects that the structured restoration programme will assist shorten that timeline.
Minister Inexperienced reported that some farmers started rehabilitation work shortly after the hurricane, supported partly by a disaster fund administered by the Banana Board. Funds have already been issued from the fund to assist cowl dietary and restoration necessities for affected farms.
He recommended growers who moved rapidly to stabilize fields and restart cultivation actions after the storm’s passage.
The Ministry additionally confirmed that banana and plantain imports won’t be permitted through the restoration interval because of biosecurity issues. Authorities confused that sustaining strict controls is crucial to stop the introduction of crop ailments which have affected banana industries in different nations.
