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FSC Manager Charlene Garrick looks on as FSC beneficiary farmer showcases dasheen roots.
FSC Manager Charlene Garrick looks on as FSC beneficiary farmer showcases dasheen roots.
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Over 850 of the nation’s farmers have benefited from the ongoing loan programme since the launch of the Farmers Support Company (FSC) in February.

There are approximately 6,500 farmers registered with the Ministry of Agriculture and to date, over 2,000 loan applications have been submitted to the FSC.

Of the approved loans, over 80 are involved in livestock farming, while the remainder are engaged in banana, root crops and mixed farming.

Some 3,475 acreage of farms have been cultivated through the assistance of the FSC.

Manager of the Farmers Support Company, Charlene Garrick, sad the company is the support farmers have been waiting for.

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Garrick, however, noted that while the company caters for farmers needs, the farmers have an obligation to repay their loan, in order for the company to be sustainable.

“With this said, I would like for the farmers to work along with the management team of FSC because the company cannot be sustainable without you. And for the company to be sustainable, it is in your best interest that repayments are done for loans that would have been issued to you and not only repayments but timely repayments,” the FSC manager said.

As it relates to repayment of loans, Garrick disclosed that there is a repayment schedule and is encouraging farmers who are not aware to visit the FSC office at the Ministry of Agriculture building at Richmond Hill to obtain such information.

“Also for farmers who may have some difficulties for some reason or the other repaying, I would encourage you to come in, sit with us so that we can go ahead and get that repayment going, because, as I said before, without repayment the company is not going to revolve.”

The FSC manager further explained that once a farmer has repaid at least 60 per cent of their loan, they will be eligible to refinance that loan and get additional money to continue farming, whether they want to expand production or go into different commodities.

“The company’s revolving depends on you the farmer so let’s keep the communication line open with the management team at the Farmers Support Company so that we can assist you while you work with us in the meantime to get this company going and to make it sustainable for agriculture, for farmers and for St. Vincent and the Grenadines on a whole,” Garrick said.

To expedite the loan process, the FSC’s Credit Officers and Agriculture Extension Officers have been meeting with farmers in their districts, where loan applications are received and assessed.

Visits to evaluate and monitor the farms provide further information on the enterprises being financed.

FSC’s Credit Facility is capitalized to the tune of EC$6 million, received as a grant from PetroCaribe.

Loans are disbursed at an interest rate of 2 per cent.

3 replies on “Over 850 farmers receive FSC loans”

  1. Charlene Garrick’s bold-faced comments says it all: “the farmers have an obligation to repay their loan, in order for the company to be sustainable.”

    In other words, as is the case with too many government programmes, the main purpose of the loans is to give employment to the company’s workers, not to revive or support agricultural production. This is because if small farming were truly viable and sustainable, these loans would not be needed or would be available where sound economic principles would determine which potential lenders should be supported, namely the private banking sector.

    Just more pretend work for underworked and overemployed public sector functionaries.

  2. Gersham Alexander says:

    Mr. C. ben-David are you saying that to ask the farmers to repay a loan ‘is a bold-faced comment’?. Come on, man, be objective. We are talking about a revolving loan scheme and… “the farmers have an obligation to repay their loan, in order for the company to be sustainable.”. what is wrong with that statement? I dont know you. But did you grow up in St Vincent in the sixties and seventies? Do you know how many farmers had loans from the then agricultural bank and did sustainable farming which enabled them to send their children to secondary school and also to build a roof over their heads. I did not go to ‘uniform’ school (secondary school) but my father was able to put a roof over my head through farming.
    Are you saying that the loans do not revive or support agricultural production? Did you conduct an inquiry into the situation? Are you saying that the 850 farmers are not doing agriculture production?
    Credit support is an integral part of any business venture. If you have ‘axe’ don’t grind it with by such irresponsible comments–the bible says…’ out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.’
    Have a good day, sir and all the best to you.

  3. Gersham Alexander, it would be appropriate if you answered what C Ben David is actually getting at, its not a beef about repaying the loans, perhaps you are just not that clever to understand what he wrote and what he meant..

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