The Ministry of Agriculture will be providing an initial $200 million to assist farmers who were severely affected during the passage of Hurricane Sandy.

Minister of State in the ministry Ian Hayles, who toured several farms in Portland yesterday, said an estimated 31,000 farmers across Jamaica have been affected by the hurricane, with damage to some 3,000 hectares of crops.

Hayles further said the damage to the country’s agricultural sector is estimated at close to $2 billion.

He said in addition to financial assistance the agriculture minister will be procuring fertiliser and planting material for farmers, especially in eastern parishes.

In terms of assistance to commercial farmers, the state minister said the Government will be looking to cut interest rates in order to allow them to get back into production as soon as possible.

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