You are here
Home | Agriculture Ministry provides $100-million support for purchase of fertilisers
Agriculture Ministry provides $100-million support for purchase of fertilisers
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has allocated $100 million in support for the purchase of fertilisers by farmers effective October 1, 2021.
This will allow for a 15% reduction in the price of four select fertilisers that are commonly used by farmers.
This announcement was made by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Audley Shaw, while giving an update on the impact of Tropical Storms Grace and Ida in Parliament on September 22.“This price reduction will be applied at the point of purchase to registered farmers islandwide for a period effective October 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 or until the $100 million is exhausted,” Shaw stated.
The Ministry, Shaw said, will be working with Newport Fersan (Jamaica) Limited, the sole manufacturer of fertilizer in Jamaica, and other importers of fertilizer to provide this support.
Following the recent rise in fertilizer costs and its negative impact on the agricultural sector, the Ministry held a series of meetings with Newport Fersan to explore immediate solutions. Arising from those discussions, the company will be bringing three new fertiliser blends to the market, utilizing less expensive but equally effective ingredients.
The Agriculture and Fisheries Minister also said the Ministry, through its Research and Development Division, has been in discussion with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) requesting technical assistance in exploring cost-effective local-based feed ingredients.
“The Ministry also continues to monitor the situation and is exploring other appropriate methods of direct intervention to bring down fertiliser costs in the shortest time,” Shaw said.
-30-
