Post Hurricane Tomas agricultural initiative is bearing fruits
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Friday 24 December 2010 – In order to help small farmers affected by Hurricane Tomas, the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan), introduced the Post Hurricane Tomas Agricultural Initiative in early November.
On December 23, 2010, at 10:00, Minister Ezechiel Joseph invited H. E. Tom Chou, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to visit farms in La Guerre. A short ceremony was held at a farm. More than 30 people attended the occasion, including Hubert Emmanuel, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, extension officers, farmers and media reporters. During the ceremony, several checks were presented to farmers who met the criteria to join the Agricultural Initiative.
According to the Initiative, the government provides subsidy to farmers who plant their cash crops before December 20 of this year. Subsidy is important because farmers lose most of their crops in the hurricane and are lack of fund to restart their business. Cash crops can be harvested in less than three months that will generate good income for farmers in a short period of time.
The Initiative aims at helping 460 small farmers. Amazingly, more than 1,400 applicants expressed their interest to join the Initiative. The huge number of applicants have proven that the project is very much welcome by local community.
Ambassador Chou said Taiwan has many typhoons every year. To help farmers in dealing with the adverse environment brought by typhoons, government of Taiwan has developed many successful experiences. The content of the Initiative is similar to that of Taiwan’s effective experiences. He believes that the agricultural initiative in St. Lucia will be a great success too. Ambassador Chou is pleased that the Embassy is a part of this effort.
Furthermore, many farm roads, initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture and sponsored by Taiwan government, had completed before Hurricane Tomas. These roads not only help farmers to cultivate their lands much easier, but also become important alternative roads after Hurricane Tomas destroyed major roads in Micoud and other areas. |
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