The Coffee Industry Board said yesterday it was in the process of distributing cheques totalling $72 million, made in response to 3,236 compensation claims brought by farmers following damage caused by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004.

In a statement yesterday, the board instructed farmers to contact their licensed purchasers to make arrangements to collect their cheques.

The board said it was awaiting instruction from the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands on whether compensation could be extended on compassionate grounds to claims ruled ineligible, for which a further $25 million is available.