$45-m crop programme to help counter effects of drought

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Observer - MINISTER of Agriculture and Fisheries Roger Clarke this week announced a $45-million crop production programme as part of the Government's drought-mitigation initiative for the sector. The programme, he said, will provide for the establishment of 645 hectares of select crops in 13 parishes to counter any shortfall in cash crops resulting from the severe dry conditions affecting the island. Minister Clarke, who was addressing a press briefing at his Hope Gardens office on Monday, said that the programme will have three components -- production incentives for farmers in irrigated areas to encourage them to plant additional acreages; production incentives for farmers in non-irrigated areas not presently affected by the dry conditions; and the trucking of water to the dry farming areas in St Elizabeth.