Australia: flood relief for cotton growers
The CEO of Cotton Australia, Adam Kay, has said that a Cotton Flood Relief Fund has been started with a $2 million contribution from Monsanto, with other cotton-growers and industry groups also contributing.
The fund is for cotton growers who were adversely affected by the floods in 2010. Cotton Australia said it had continued to develop an ongoing support system “delivering real benefits to flood-struck, cotton-farming families”.
“The main aim of this fund was to deliver targeted assistance via a simple process, without being tied up in complex paperwork and formality, with financial support given to those growers who can demonstrate severe production losses,” Mr Kay said.
“We have also set up a stand-alone company with an independent board and advisory panel to manage the fund, develop assessment criteria and oversee the funds’ distribution. The financial assistance available will be to help in purchasing planting seed for the 2011-12 crop, based on production impacts calculated on area planted,” he said.
