Dr. Jagdeo announces $250M in fertiliser support for Region Two farmers

On Wednesday, Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo announced that farmers in Region Two will be receiving $250M for the purchase of fertiliser.

Dr. Jagdeo said that the funds will come from the $1B set aside by the government for the purchase of fertiliser for free distribution among farmers across the country. Vice President Jagdeo met with the farmers at the Rice Producers Association bond, Anna Regina.

The VP disclosed that the farmers will then decide, along with the regional authorities where the fertiliser would be purchased and how it will be distributed.

“So you will get $250 million, this group and then you will have to decide where you can get the fertiliser, the cheapest, who would supply it and how it will be distributed and to whom and how much they will get, each person will get,” Dr. Jagdeo explained.

The VP related to the farmers that the government’s move to provide fertiliser to the farmers follows meetings in the regions by him, where farmers raised the concern. Dr. Jagdeo stressed that this is in keeping with his promise to assist and it will greatly offset the cost for the farmers.

He explained that the $1B was prorated and respective regions will receive the funds based on their production output.

VP Jagdeo also expressed the hope that following discussions, the group of farmers selected from the various Neighborhood Democratic Councils and the Water Users’ Association would distribute the fertiliser equitably, with focus on the small farmers.

In a recent address to the nation, President Irfaan Ali, announced several measures aimed at cushioning the effects of the rising cost of living, among the measures, the purchase of the fertiliser, as well as $25,000 cash grants for households in riverain and hinterland communities.

Ali had said that support is being provided to these two groups since they were severely affected by the cost of living increases, which resulted from global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia war.

Meanwhile, Dr. Jagdeo noted that once farmers can provide proof of their losses, government is willing to further assist with the purchase of seed paddy, among other interventions.