There is an element of the Farmer Assistance Program which resembles
the Unemployment relief program, in which qualified farmers will be
given cash transfers of $500 each.
The Minister made it clear that this is the only part of the program
where cash will be given directly to the farmers. He explained why:
Hon. Godwin Hulse - Ministry of Agriculture
"Then there is financial support. As you know Government gave out to all
and sundry, let's say, people who are unemployed as a result of COVID,
losing their jobs, people who were previously unemployed, the government
gave out a significant amount of money to those. Well, under the
agriculture program, we're also doing something similar, but this will be
primarily small-scale farmers, and as I mentioned before, female farmers,
regardless of the amount of land and size of the operation. The Government
is paying out a fixed sum of approximately $500 per farmer. We've allocated
2.747 million dollars to this component. And as I said before, it is
important to highlight the contribution of women in the agriculture value
chain. Registered farmers across Belize meeting criteria will qualify for
this benefit, and when I'm through, we'll explain how this will be
disbursed."
Hulse and his team also explained that qualified farmers may get what
is being referred to as "post-harvest management assistance". It's
basically, where the Government will pay for inputs such as fertilizers
for the farmers to jump-start their agricultural enterprises. Here's
what he had to say about the voucher system that this one will be based
on:
Hon. Godwin Hulse
"There is another component, which is the Ministry decided to provide
post-harvest management assistance to vegetable producers and agricultural
cooperatives involved consolidation, packing, and distribution of products.
Producers will receive harvesting crates to facilitate the harvesting and
transportation of their produce. This aimed at reducing bruising and
preserving quality. Cooperatives will receive washing bins, draining tubes,
sorters, and scales to improve the handling of products received from their
members. We have $500,000 that's allocated for this."
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