Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy, Ryan Anselm, has announced that the total damage and loss to farmers in the East and Northeast of the island following the passage of a trough system on Sunday, April 26, 2026, is estimated at $2 million.
The system brought heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides, particularly in the East and Northeast of the island.
“It is important to note that immediately after the trough system, our team of extension officers, led by the honourable minister, including the Ministry of Agriculture team, conducted an assessment of the affected areas,” he said during an interview. “…The Post-Disaster Needs Assessment captures the needs of the farmers from various communities that were impacted.”
Anselm continued, “Our assessment indicates that of 734 registered farmers, 276 farmers were directly impacted. Some were impacted moderately, severely, and some low. This includes crop farmers, livestock farmers, aquaculture, farm infrastructure tools, equipment, and machinery, greenhouse and animal pens, feeder roads, and access to farms.
He added, “It is estimated that the total damage and loss is $2 million. And that is excluding feeder roads and farm access.”
Meanwhile, Anselm announced that the Ministry of Agriculture is expected to introduce a cash grant assistance programme in the coming weeks for farmers affected by recent damage. The support initiative will target farmers who experienced losses to crops and livestock, assist with labour expenses, and provide relief for those impacted by damaged feeder roads and limited access to farms.
“We will also work with the Ministry of Public Works for the restoration of feeder roads to allow access to farmers,” he noted.
Furthermore, Anselm said it is important to note that the trough system brought forth 18 inches of intense rainfall which would have caused widespread flooding and landslide, “and so in a response to this the Ministry of Agriculture is aware that this rainfall would have caused erosion, land slippage and so we will implement in the medium term, mitigation measures to include land stabilization, restoration of nutrients and planting of the right tree crop.”
Real farmers that are not supporting the very corrupt Skerrit and the DLP will not get money; however weed growers and the usual farmers of Roosevelt Skerrit will get money even if they don’t contribute a bit to farming .The minister and government just looking for ways to distribute campaign money because they know they failed the people
The farmers in the affected areas are really hurting. Their means of livelihood has been severely disrupted. Hope they are given the assistance needed. The help should be immediate and without discrimination.
DNO, I would humbly suggest that your journalists follow up to verify whether these farmers get the assistance promised by those who control the public purse. Why do I ask? This administration is famous for a surplus of promises and a huge deficit of execution.
or ask ishowspeed where the money he promised he would donate to dca from the streams he did in dca
i waiting to see if that invisible money ever land
Yea, your so-called invisible money it comes from the sky, lol. The PM just has to say abracadabra and the Money comes and gives the money next week, is this how it works.
The pm leaving rent free in your brain because I never mentioned the kokomayok and u calling him straight away 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
“would have caused widespread flooding and landslide, “and so in a response to this the Ministry of Agriculture is aware that this rainfall would have caused erosion, land slippage and so we will implement in the medium term, mitigation measures to include land stabilization, restoration of nutrients and planting of the right tree crop.”
This is corrective action after the effects. A knee perk reaction. I would suggest identifying vulnerable areas, assign a risk level prioritize engineering controls and mitigation measures before another event happens. it will happen again somewhere else.
Is it Government priority and full responsibility to identify the vulnerable areas and mitigation measures before such event happens to farmers land and crops. You know, why not ask the Government to plant the crops for the farmers to. My point is, farmers need to educate themselves, and know their terrain this is part of the Job of being a farmer, it’s like people having a body and never taking care of it and when they get ill they expect the Government to fix it for them and even advise them as to the right foods to eat to stay healthy, where is the responsibility of a people to educate themselves and gain knowledge of the body that belongs to them.
Out of what magicians ht you guys pull that number out of?