Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 12, 2021 (SKNIS): The Ministry of Agriculture is assisting livestock farmers to overcome the recent animal feed shortages by offering a discounted price on supplies sold at the department.
During the November 10, 2021, Sitting of the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly, Honourable Alexis Jeffers, Minister of Agriculture, gave some insights into this new farmers' assistance initiative.
“We are assisting our farmers through the reduction of the price of feed from the 5th of November all the way down to the 31st of December. This is to help them to recover some of the losses that they would have had after we would have had the difficulties with the disruption in the supply chain,” Minister Jeffers stated.
The animal feed has traditionally been supplied from companies in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The businesses suffered setbacks due to a problem with the feed mill. There was also a shortage in the imported raw materials that are necessary to produce the feed. The shortage was further compounded when Hurricane Ida impacted Louisiana, USA in late August, 2021.
As such, Minister Jeffers said that the government was moved to offer generous assistance to the farmers.
“So they are now receiving 50 percent off of the cost of feed for poultry, for rabbits, and other livestock that depends on the type of feed that we sell at the Department of Agriculture,” he said.
The minister indicated that the estimated revenue that the government will forgo under this initiative is approximately $200,000. He added that the government continues to work on behalf of the farmers and for their betterment through its assistance programme.
The increased output will boost the Federation’s food security and self-sustainability.
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