Minister of Agriculture Gregory Bowen and Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture Roland Bhola met on Tuesday (December 7) at Bain’s Hall in Grenville with Extension Officers who serve the Northern part of Grenada to address some of the difficulties farmers and farm workers are encountering with the Agricultural Emergency Rehabilitation Project (AERP). The meeting was a follow-up to the first that was held November 19th at the Melville Street Fish Market Conference Room with Extension Officers from the Southern Division. Minister Bowen and Minister Bhola, who were accompanied by Acting Chief Extension Officer Randolph Shears, sought to clarify several issues for the benefit of the Extension Officers to ensure that the farming community is properly served by the Ministry, recognising that the Project is new and payments to some participants have been delayed. It was agreed that wages should be determine by the farmers up to $45.00 per day. It was also agreed that certification of work accomplished must be done on completion. This means that payments can only be made for a particular fortnight the following week. Given the positive response by farmers to the Project, additional staff will begin working on Thursday (December 9) performing administrative duties so that Extension Officers have more time in the field with farmers. During the first month of operation, approximately 850 farmers and 3,000 farm workers have enrolled in the Project, as the Ministry pursues a goal of rehabilitating 5,000 acres. The $14 million Project, which began on November 1, is designed to accommodate some 2,000 farmers and 6,700 workers and marks the first time in Grenada’s history that farmers and farm workers are being subsidized for their labour. Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Forestry and Fisheries