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by pltm
(PLTM) - The farming and fishing industries have suffered over $13M in losses following hurricanes Irma and Maria, but the government has only allocated some $300,000 to help with rebuilding the sectors this year.
This information was disclosed by Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Resources and Labour, Hon. Dr. Kedrick Pickering.
"...The entire Territory suffered greatly; therefore, the available funds needed to be spread across many areas to jump start the recovery efforts. The combined industry of agriculture and fisheries was allotted three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) to assist the farmers and fishermen," Dr. Pickering said in the House of Assembly yesterday, July 19.
However, he said that after much deliberations and considerations from the team in both departments, they have concluded that the best way to help the most farmers and fishermen, given the available budget, is to make available supplies such as water tanks, fencing posts, fencing wire and other farm supplies such as ground cover, etc. for the farmers and fish pot wire, hooks, ropes, lines, etc. for the fishermen.
Speaking to the losses, the Minister said that the assessment conducted by the Conservation and Fisheries Department uncovered about 78 fishermen who suffered losses ranging from the loss of fishing pots to the loss of their fishing vessels.
"The monetized losses range from just a couple thousands of dollars, in the case of fish pots, to approximately seventy-thousand ($70K) dollars, in the case of a vessel; the total value of these losses adds up to approximately three million ($3M) dollars."
He noted that a few of fishermen had started entering the sport fishing sector of the industry, but have now, unfortunately, suffered a major set-back as a result of the loss of their vessels in the devastating hurricanes of last year.
"This sector of the industry is developing rapidly as the Territory is now home to five tournaments each year."
In relation to the farming sector, Dr. Pickering said that according to the assessment conducted by the Department of Agriculture, this sector suffered a combined loss of approximately $10M.
"There were about one hundred and twenty-six (126) farmers assessed, who suffered losses in the areas of crops, livestock, and poultry; there were also major losses to the sector’s infrastructure," he said.
Minister Pickering pointed out that within the next few weeks, the Department of Agriculture will be informing the farming community of a variety of fruit trees that will be made available at minimal cost.
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