Rs3000/arpent to help planter after Intense Cyclone Freddy

The Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security informs farmers that, following the torrential rainfall and adverse climatic conditions that prevailed during cyclone Freddy from 18th to 21st February 2023.

Field visits are presently being carried out by the Small Farmers Welfare Fund (SFWF) and the Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Unit (FAREI) to assess the extent of damage to fields. A financial assistance would be provided to registered farmers following this assessment.

Planters are advised to take the following measures:
• Drain the excess water from their fields;
• Apply fungicides on existing crops;
• Undertake preventive field remediation; and
• Carry out fertilization according to requirements.

Breeders are advised to avoid feeding animals with freshly harvested forage, to avoid the incidence of bloating and to keep animals in dry conditions to avoid moisture-related infections.

Planters are also informed that they may apply for:
• a subsidy of Rs3000/arpent up to a maximum of 5 arpents under the Subsidy on Agricultural Mechanisation Scheme (SAM) for mechanization of their plantations; and
• a Subsidy of 50% under the Fertiliser Subsidy Scheme (FSS), 60% under the Bio Farming Subsidy Scheme (BFSS) and 75% under the Locally Produced Fertiliser Subsidy Scheme (LPFS).

For more information on the above two schemes, SFWF may be contacted on the following phone numbers:

Onion and vegetable seeds would be distributed, free of charge to registered farmers, based on a production plan being prepared by FAREI.

7. Additionally, farmers are advised to apply for:
• Sheltered Farm Net/Plastic Replacement Scheme; and
• Livestock Development Scheme for upgrading their Livestock farm.