Farmers affected by TC Yasa & Ana to receive $200 to cover the costs of land clearance, preparation and planting

If you are are farmer and have been affected by Tropical Cyclone Yasa and Ana you can apply for $200 to cover the costs of land clearance, preparation and planting of a one acre plot of land.

This is being done through Ministry of Agriculture and Adventist Development and Relief Agency’s ‘Cash for Cultivation' programme.

They have signed a Declaration of Intent to facilitate the implementation of the initiative.

Minister for Agriculture, Doctor Mahendra Reddy says the objective of this initiative is to provide cash assistance to vulnerable farmers affected by TC Yasa and Ana to re-establish an acre of plot.

ADRA Country Director Iliapi Tuwa, says it's an honor for them to partner with the Ministry to launch in this project which they have been discussing for quite some time and now it is time to roll it out so that the farmers who are here and around Fiji will be supported by some of the money that they have collected so that it can be useful to these farmers.

Farmers will receive $75 as an up-front payment, and $125 on providing evidence of land clearance, preparation and cultivation.

The Agriculture Ministry says all farmers in he Eastern, Western and Northern Divisions will be eligible to participate in this program and each household must identify agriculture as its main source of livelihood.

They say eligible farmers will be registered using an electronic form, advice on the terms and conditions for the cash transfer and given $75.

The crops eligible for this program are any vegetables and root crops.