The Government has partnered with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), to continue supporting farmers through the Buy-Back Programme.

The initiative aims to purchase excess produce from farmers and assist those who are unable to sell excess produce due to the downturn in hotel operations caused by the outbreak of the COVID-19 across the globe. The assistance programme also aims to redistribute the excess produce from farmers.

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Floyd Green, disclosed that $35 million was received from the FAO to carry on the programme.

He added that the focus will be placed on farmers, particularly youth and women in the eastern parishes of the island.

“We are going to target the eastern parishes, which is perfect, because they were not as hard hit by the recent rains, so they may have excess, and we are going to specifically target youth and women farmers to see if we can move their produce,”

he shared.