By Sue-Ann Wayow
MINISTER of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Clarence Rambharat says close to 200,000 families will benefit from the food box programme.
He and Member of Parliament for Chaguanas West Dinesh Rambally on Thursday toured the Woodford Lodge Wholesale Market in Chaguanas which is being used to assemble food boxes.
The boxes are being organised by the National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO).
Rambally has been attempting to assist farmers in his constituency who are capable of supplying fruits and vegetables to the Government’s ongoing Covid-19 food relief programme.
Speaking to AZPNews.com, Rambarath said, “The food box programme goes from May to end of September 2021. Parliament has just approved $57 million for the programme. Based on current estimates, we will reach 125,000 families through the 41 MPs; 50,000 families through 139 Councillors and 12 THA assemblymen with frozen chicken and peeled and frozen provision packs.”
He added, “We will also be able to reach another 10,000 families via NGOs, CBOs and individual requests. Today the 160th farmer delivered produce in the programme. I would like take that number up to 250. Today’s visit by the MP for Chaguanas West Dinesh Rambally followed weeks of discussion and a request that he pushes the farmers in his constituency to come into the program since Felicity and those areas in Chaguanas are within a few minutes of the packaging facility at Woodford Lodge.”
Rambally said he looked forward to further valuable information being provided by Rambharat on all aspects of the programme particularly the farmers from the central region to ramp up their production of components of the food boxes.
Among the items in the hampers being distributed are sweet potatoes, dasheen, cassava, plantains, squash, pineapples, citrus, paw paw, cucumbers, bodi, sweet peppers, hot peppers, tomatoes, ochroes, melongene, dasheen leaves and pimento peppers.
Also included are two locally processed chickens and eggs.
Following the tour on Thursday, Rambally said that he will soon meet with farmers in his constituency which includes the districts of Bejucal, Monroe Road and Felicity to determine how they can contribute to the provision of fruits and vegetables to the food relief programme.
He said it was important that the market provided by NAMDEVCO for locally grown produce is kept open for the hardworking farmers and he will do all he can to bring some of the benefits to his constituency.
Rambharat also told AZPNews.com the first month of distribution was successful with a few minor hiccups.
He added that farmers who farm on a smaller scale can consult with NAMDEVCO for purchase.
“Farmers need to communicate with NAMDEVCO on these matters. NAMDEVCO decides what minimum quantities it will take on each delivery date,” the minister said.
