GOVERNOR LINGLE REQUESTS FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL DISASTER DECLARATION

For Immediate Release:  March 24, 2006

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle today sent a request for disaster designation to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns due to crop damage that has occurred in the County of Kaua`i and the City & County of Honolulu between February 20 and March 26, 2006.  A disaster declaration by the Secretary would make Hawai`i farmers eligible for federal low-interest loans. 

“It is critically important that our farmers on Kaua`i, Ni`ihau and O`ahu get the help they need today,” said Governor Lingle. “This extended period of heavy rain has decimated many crops to the point where it will take several months or more for most farmers to recover.” 

“The quicker we start the process for a federal disaster declaration, the faster our farmers can get their fields back into production,” said Sandra Lee Kunimoto, Chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture.  “The state is already processing emergency low-interest loans for affected farmers and the disaster declaration will bring additional resources and aid.” 

The request to the Secretary was made based on preliminary data that has been collected by state and federal agriculture officials that meet the criteria of at least 30 percent crop losses in each county.   

Kaua`i residents and farmers may seek assistance at the following Disaster Assistance & Recovery Centers: 

Friday, March 24          
Kilauea Neighborhood Center          
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

Saturday, March 25  
Kalaheo Neighborhood Center  
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

For more information on state agricultural loans, call the Agricultural Loan Division on O`ahu at 973-9460 or call the Hawai`i Department of Agriculture’s Kaua`i office at 274-3069. Information is also available on the division’s Web page: http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/agl_qfarm.htm .  

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For more information, contact: 

Sandra Lee Kunimoto  
Chair, Board of Agriculture  
Phone: (808) 975-9550 

Lenny Klompus          
Senior Advisor – Communications          
Phone: (808) 586-7708         

Russell Pang  
Chief of Media Relations  
Phone: (808) 586-0043

Major General Robert Lee  
State Adjutant General  
Phone: (808) 733-4246