The Government of China (Taiwan), through the Taiwanese Technical Mission, recently provided financial assistance to a total of 108 farmers to help rehabilitate farms damaged by Tropical Storm Kirk.

Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Ezechiel Joseph, explained that the monies will help defray rehabilitation costs for farms and plantations destroyed by the Sep. 28 storm.

“The Government of Taiwan presented a cheque of $1.4 million to assist farmers who experienced damage after the storm,” he said. “What we have agreed on, based on the program we put to the cabinet, is that farmers who are cutting back and replanting will be getting two sets of fertilizers, oil to spray for black sigatoka, chemicals, nematicides and $400 per acre that got damaged. So if you had five acres with 80 percent in damages, you will get $400 for the eighty percent of the plots that got damage, because we are giving support based on damage.”

Some farmers were deprived of compensation from insurance companies due to a clause indicating that registered wind speeds from a storm or hurricane must register a minimum of 65 mph. The registered wind speed for Tropical Storm Kirk was 60 mph.

Taiwan’s Technical Mission representative Mario Cheng, assured farmers that the Taiwanese Government is committed to improving productivity in the agriculture sector.

The cheque was presented on Nov. 26 and will assist farmers in Babonneau, Forestierre Crown Lands, Deglos and Roseau.