“Twenty municipalities will benefit from the Overseas Relief Fund,” said Minister Sébastien Lecornu.
Overseas Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced on Wednesday a set of measures to help farmers on Reunion Island: from rafting to microlight, our essential activities on the “intense island” whose farms have been affected. in February by two intense cyclonic episodes, Batsirai and Emnati.
“I have just validated the triggering of the FSOM, the Overseas Relief Fund, for 20 municipalities in Reunion. The other municipalities will be studied soon, which will allow us to trigger (…) all the procedures for agricultural disasters from the month of March, therefore in a particularly short time.“, said the minister, in response to a question from Reunionese senator Jean-Louis Lagourgue (Independent).
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The minister indicated that the instruction time will be reduced from one year to five months “which will be the maximum of what the services of the State can do, in connection with the chamber of agriculture of your territory to instruct the various files“.
Cyclones caused 47 million euros in damage
Regarding the cash flow problems that could affect Reunionese farmers, “with Julien Denormandie (Minister of Agriculture), and Olivier Dussopt (Minister of Public Accounts), we are going to issue instructions to the various collecting bodies to show goodwill on the various deadlines for social security contributions or a certain number of appointments. you tax to allow these farms to pass this course“, assured the minister.
The government will alsomaintain state-guaranteed loans for Reunion farmersadded Mr. Lecornu. The Reunion Chamber of Agriculture estimated the damage inflicted on farms by the intense cyclone Batsirai near the island on 3 and 4 February at 47 million euros. Cyclone Emnati hit Reunion from February 18 to 21.