CLARKETHE AGRICULTURE sector is set to benefit from some $16.1 million (US$265,000) more in hurricane recovery assistance following a recent agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.
Roger Clarke, the minister of agriculture, and Donovan Robinson, FAO representative to Jamaica, signed the agreement recently for the disbursement of the funds, which will be used to finance two projects to identify income and employment generating initiatives, conforming to existing national development strategies and programmes.
Under the first project, Jamaica will receive just under $4 million (US$65,000) to compile a damage assessment and framework planning report, which will serve as the basis for planning investment and other rehabilitation interventions.
MOBILISE GRANTS AND 'SOFT' LOANS
According to Mr. Clarke, a portion of the funds would be used to prepare investment proposals geared towards identifying priority areas for intervention that may be either funded by government, or which could be used to mobilise grants and 'soft' loans from multilateral and bilateral agencies.
Under the second project entitled 'Emergency Support to Farmers Affected by Hurricane Ivan in Jamaica', $12.2 million will be allocated for the procurement of emergency inputs such as seeds, planting materials, fertilisers and small agricultural tools for the most vulnerable farming households.
This component of the programme is to be completed by October 2005.
