Fed: Drought assistance for sugar farmers

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-2004
Fed: Drought assistance for sugar farmers

CANBERRA, Dec 24 AAP - More than 1,000 sugar farmers from Queensland can now apply
for drought assistance, federal Agriculture Minister Warren Truss said today.

Mr Truss said an area covering Mackay and the central coast had been granted an Exceptional
Circumstance declaration, enabling farmers to claim interest rate subsidies and welfare
payments.

It covers sugar producers in the Mackay, Sarina, Mirani, Whitsunday, Bowen, Nebo, Broadsound,
Fitzroy and Livingstone shires, and parts of the Belyando and Duaringa shires.

"The serious nature of the region's drought has necessitated additional business related
assistance," Mr Truss said in a statement.

The declaration covers dryland and partially irrigated sugar farmers.

AAP sw/bes

KEYWORD: DROUGHT

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