JAMAICA Agricultural Society president, Senator Norman Grant, yesterday announced the launch of a helpline to assist farmers in southern St Elizabeth and Manchester, who suffered substantial losses from Hurricane Charley earlier this month.

In a release yesterday, Grant said that the JAS implemented the helpline as part of an assistance programme, independent of the government’s relief efforts, which is offering $1 million in aid to the most seriously affected farmers in the region.

Grant said that through the helpline, the society will be soliciting contributions in cash or kind from the public. The cash will be used to purchase seeds and fertiliser. Donations should be lodged to the JAS Development Trust Fund, account number 061028072, at any NCB branch, islandwide.

Senator Grant said that, to date, commitments have been received from Grace, Kennedy – $100,000 in seeds; Antilles Chemicals – $81,000 in seeds and fertliser; Jamaica Broilers – $20,000; Clinton McGann Farms – $5,000 in cash; and Can$1,000 from a Jamaican living in Canada.

In the meantime, Grant said the JAS had conveyed to the prime minister its position of the need for speedy relief for the farmers and held discussions with minister of state in the Ministry of Agriculture Errol Ennis, and the permanent secretary in the ministry, Dr Richard Harrison, on the matter.

He noted also that the Development Bank of Jamaica had agreed to reschedule loans owed by the affected farmers through the PC Banks; Food for the Poor agreed to assist with housing and farm materials, while the JAS had sought assistance from the Rural Agricultural Development Authority with technical expertise for the replacement of lost top soil.