Almost 100 people have signed up to provide relief assistance on farms across the country, Vísir
reports. The initiative, launched by the Farmers Association of Iceland (BÍ), will send temporary workers to help farmers who have fallen ill with COVID-19 and are unable to maintain their farms. At the time of writing, six farmers in the Vestur-Húnvatnssýsla district in Northwest Iceland have contracted the virus.
“Almost a hundred people are on our list,” remarked Guðbjörg Jónsdóttir, the BÍ project manager. “I’m really touched at how the country is thinking about farmers and is ready to help. There are people who have experience and knowledge and have an education in agriculture and then also those who have lost their jobs in the tourism sector and then working consultants – all really decent folk from all over the country.”
At this time, the infected farmers in Northwest Iceland have been able to continue maintaining their farms with the help of family members or workers from nearby farms. It’s not yet known what other farms have been affected by COVID-19, but by having a list of volunteers in place, BÍ is hoping to circumvent further disruptions in the agricultural sector as the virus continues to spread.
“The virus is obviously just starting to run its course,” said Guðbjörg, “and the lambing season is going to start in a month – that’s the biggest concern, how we’re going to deal with that.” (ICELAND REVIEW)
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