ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — More than 50 farmers in St Elizabeth and Westmoreland across the island’s south coast have received grants totalling more than $2.2 million to inject in the recovery of crops and livestock following losses experienced during the passage of Hurricane Beryl in July.

The grants, which ranged in value from $40,000 to $45,000, were made possible by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) Humanitarian Assistance Programme operated by the Canadian High Commission to Jamaica.

Executed by Sandals Foundation, the programme, since October, has been implementing a series of restorative projects to support residents’ ongoing efforts to restore their livelihoods and educational facilities.

Following a careful needs assessment by Breds Foundation, the Abilities Foundation and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, on Wednesday, December 18, members of Sandals Foundation team hand-delivered cash vouchers to 20 vegetable farmers in Treasure Beach; 10 visually-impaired female farmers in Junction, St Elizabeth; and 22 poultry farmers in Darliston, Westmoreland.

“The last five months have not been easy for our island’s food producers with many not yet being able to find their footing,” a Sandals Foundation news release quotes Executive Director Heidi Clarke. “These cash vouchers will help in rebuilding damaged infrastructure, purchase needed input, supplies, and livestock to steadily resume their earnings and revive their livelihoods.”

Thirty-six-year-old Shaniek Powell, who has been blind for two years, and farming in St Elizabeth for almost the same period, said she lost all her crops in the hurricane.

“We had cucumbers, we had watermelon, we had tomatoes, we had sweet peppers, and everything got destroyed. These funds will help me to buy farm supplies, get more things planted and expand on my beetroot farming,” Powell said.

A similar story was shared by Trevor Rowe, a farmer of more than 40 years.

“Hurricane Beryl mash we up. It mash up mi house and mi farm. This money will mend a gap. I will buy fertiliser, seeds, spraying materials and more. It will take about four months for things to come back,” he said.

Teacher and part-time farmer Allison Gayle said she lost more than 10 acres of crops.

“I had a hard time getting back up [after Beryl] and it has significantly hampered my ability to rebound. The assistance will go a long way in helping me get fertiliser, pesticide, and other input so I can go on to feed the nation again,” Gayle said.

The farmers’ livelihood initiative forms part of a wider $5.7-million humanitarian outreach and disaster relief project under the CFLI.

Going forward Sandals Foundation said it will work with fisherfolk in south coast communities to address immediate needs.

The CFLI provides modest funding for small-scale, high-impact projects in more than 120 countries eligible for official development assistance. Projects are planned and implemented mainly by local organisations, and are selected and approved by the relevant Canadian Embassy or High Commission.