The government plans to introduce a weather-triggered insurance scheme for farmers as part of its broader post-disaster resilience strategy.
Agriculture Minister Floyd Green says the government will be providing 50 million dollars for the insurance plan.
The Minister, speaking during this week’s launch of the Denbigh Agricultural Show, explained that the base rate to insure a farm for one year is ten thousand dollars, “so the government is putting in place a $50 million program to ensure 5,000 farmers on a first come first serve basis, prioritizing our youth and our women, this financial year.”
Accordingly, he’s urging farmers to contact the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), the 4H Club organization, GK, Weather Protect (the insurance provider), promising that the government will make that base payment, (but)… if you want to top it up, then you can top it up.”
Drought Mitigation
Additionally, he said money has been earmarked to alleviate the effects of drought conditions.
“Already, we are starting to roll out a 149 million dollar programme around drought. And already in parts of our country, some of our more productive areas, we have already started to truck water to farmers.”
He said a significant component of this initiative is to build catchment ponds.
“If you have a group and you have an area in your community that will be good to develop a catchment area, reach out to RADA. We will do thAT free of cost. And if you are a sole practitioner, a sole entrepreneur; you one farming, hear the deal: You do the excavation; we will provide you with the pond liner, free, of course.”
Strategic Plan
Green also disclosed that the administration is developing a ten-year strategic plan for the agriculture sector, explaining that there has to be a long term plan for agriculture, cutting across political administrations.
“It shouldn’t make a difference who is the minister of agriculture. You should know the direction of the government and the country for agriculture for the next 10 years. We’re working on that now, because we want people to look on and know where Jamaica plans to be in the next 10 years without agricultural enterprise.”
He said it was expected by the end of September, the government will be able to present that plan.