top of page
Search

Agriculture Dept. begins delivery of emergency incentives to farmers impacted by TS Ernesto

Writer's picture: The San Juan Daily StarThe San Juan Daily Star



By The Star Staff


On Thursday the delivery of the subsidy under the emergency aid program will begin for coffee, citrus and banana producers who faced million-dollar losses as a result of Tropical Storm Ernesto in August, Agriculture Secretary Ramón González Beiró announced Sunday.


The distribution of the funds will take place on Thursday, Oct. 31, at Rafael Llull Pérez Coliseum in Adjuntas, from 10 a.m. to noon.


“We invite all coffee, citrus and banana producers to join us this Thursday in Adjuntas to receive their check,” González Beiró said. “These incentives facilitate the reestablishment of crops and the implementation of new agricultural practices to strengthen production on their farms.”


“We close applications on [Wednesday] the 30th and begin distributing checks on the 31st,” the official added.


The funds are part of an emergency program to which $14 million has been allocated, designed to support the recovery of farms and key crops in the island’s agricultural economy. That includes not only coffee, citrus, bananas and plantains, but also the leasing of agricultural machinery for the reconstruction of roads, the clearing of debris and other essential agricultural practices. Those producers who insured their crops through the Agricultural Insurance Corp., or CSA by its initials in Spanish, will benefit.


The incentives will be distributed according to the type of crop and the number of acres insured and affected. Coffee producers will receive $300 per affected acres, while citrus producers will receive $380 per acre. For banana and plantain farmers, the incentive will be $3,000 per acre, as long as the crops have been insured and are impacted.


Affected farmers have until Wednesday (Oct. 30) to submit their applications, which will be prioritized through a quick and effective evaluation to address the urgent needs of each case. To process the aid, farmers must go to the Department of Agriculture offices, where an agronomist will evaluate the specific needs of each farm and recommend the most appropriate equipment for the recovery work.

86 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page