The V.I. Department of Agriculture has two new initiatives to help the territory’s farmers; a plan to help buy fencing at a discount and an outreach unit to routinely visit and assess farm sites.
The outreach program, called Assess and Assist, will focus on assessing the needs and challenges of farmers while providing technical outreach and assistance by providing appropriate information and making recommendations and referrals, according to a statement from the Agriculture Department.
Assessors will make monthly visits to follow up with clients on prior recommendations and compliance issues. The goal is to provide effective outreach support services to farmers regarding their production, marketing and overall business practices.
The Assess and Assist Program is open to all crop and livestock producers operating on either public or private acreage. The government’s official registry of licensed farmers will be used to identify and target clients for the program, so the department is encouraging farmers to become licensed.
The official launch of this assessment initiative took take place Thursday on farm plots in Estate Dorothea, St. Thomas.
A second program, called Fencing for Profit and Protection, will help licensed farmers who want to put up fencing. The program will share some of the cost and help to get the materials. Fencing will not only help protect crops and livestock for farmers, it will cut down on stray animals in the roads and protect the public.
Farmers can order fence wire and posts through Agriculture, paying for the materials, and then the department will place a bulk order and pay for shipping and handling. Those who wish to take part can contact the Agriculture Department before Feb. 5 to participate.
Further information about both programs can be obtained by calling the department at 776-6274 on St. John, 774-5182 on St. Thomas or 778-0997/8 on St. Croix.
