Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha says the distribution of the $150,000 cash grant for fisherfolk will commence in two weeks’ time once the list is verified across the country.
President Irfaan Ali in May announced this one-off cash grant for fisherfolk that is aimed at providing assistance and expanding the fishing industry, which is currently facing challenges.
Meanwhile, in August, the National Assembly approved $300 million to support this initiative, and a verification process is currently ongoing.
This exercise is expected to be wrapped up by the third week in September, according to Minister Mustapha, who spoke to reporters on the sidelines of an event earlier this week.
According to the Minister, a number of names were added to the list during the verification process.
“That will be for the next two weeks, well in the next, and hopefully by then, we can have a verified list, and we will pay the cash grant to the fisher folk.”
Fisherfolk who have registered for the grant are asked to check the list in the various communities to see if their names are listed.
Persons are encouraged to contact the Fisheries Officer in the various regions to make objections or add any names to the list.
“I still want us to have maximum verification. I want a list that is very transparent, a list that is reflective of our fisher folk, the number of fisher folk in our country, and the real beneficiary.”
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