More than 15,000 farmers in Region Two (Pomeroon- Supenaam) on Thursday began receiving vouchers for free fertiliser as part of the government’s countrywide fertiliser relief programme.
With the distribution of these Brijlall Persaud, a farmer from Columbia on the Essequibo Coast, was among the first set of farmers to uplift his voucher.
“I’m very thankful for the 18 bags of fertiliser that the government is giving us and I look forward to other support from the government,” Persaud related.
The voucher received varies based on the acres of land farmers utilise. These vouchers are valid for six months.
Regional Vice Chairman Humace Oodit said that this distribution exercise started only after there was a lengthy period of verification.
“Farmers themselves went and verified the names and helped in the verification process.
“The verification process was something that had to be done,” Oodit underscored.
To cushion the harsh impact of the increased cost of goods, President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced earlier this year that $1 billion in fertiliser relief for farmers all across the country.
It joins several other relief measures, including tax reductions and cash grants provided to farmers and other vulnerable groups across the country.
Of the $1 billion sum, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo had said that Region Two farmers would get $275 million worth of fertiliser.
