Agriculture Minister, Floyd Green, has directed the National Irrigation Commission (NIC) to explore the repurposing of underutilized tanks across the island to provide irrigation water to farmers.
Green, who was addressing patrons at St. Bess Agri-Fest on Friday, June 9 in St. Elizabeth, said that he has already engaged the NIC in dialogue surrounding how the tanks, which are said to have been constructed by the Parish Council years ago, can be used to supply farmers with irrigation water at affordable cost.
“If we can put them back into use, put our irrigation systems on them and use them to bring water to the famers cheaper, that will really move St. Elizbeth even further,” he highlighted in relation to St. Elizabeth’s performance in the first quarter despite the drought.
The agriculture minister also made reference to major irrigation projects that the Ministry is undertaking, such as the Essex Valley Agriculture Development Project, the Southern Plains Agricultural Development Irrigation projects and the Pedro Plains Irrigation Scheme as medium to long-term initiatives that will provide greater financial security for farmers.
However, he emphasised that the Ministry is looking to ramp up its focus on providing greater short-term responses to boost the productivity of our farmers.
“I know more farmers need some of the tanks, drip hoses to be able to increase their productivity. I have said to the NIC and my Permanent Secretary to see if we can find some budget for that,” Green outlined.
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