The Rural Agricultural Development Authority’s (RADA) is citing their last Farmers’ Market event as the most successful to date.
Staged on Wednesday June 29-2011, that event brought out the largest farmer and client participation to date and netted the most revenue.
A total of 307 farmers participated in this last event -with a total of 286, 503 pounds of volumes of produce sold.
Approximately 20,200 customers came out to purchase at the various locations.
This last market staged in 8 locations simultaneously; netted a single event revenue of 20 point 9 million dollars.
The Farmers’ Market one of the most successful agricultural sector developmental tools, in recent times; has seen for the period January to June 2011 – some two million seven hundred and fifty five thousand one hundred and fifty seven (2,755,157) volumes of various farm produce being sold.
Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Dr. Marc Panton, says that the mechanism is benefitting farmers specifically; as through direct provision of farmer client interaction – an expansion of the market for local produce has and is occurring.
This he explains has the logical outflow of translating into a growth of the farming sector.
This he says is falling in line as a primary target of the Government.
Dr. Panton says that additionally the farmers are reaping more benefits through their new option of accessing the value added positive, of selling retail.
This is an earning which accrues directly to the farmer through the Farmers’ Markets which never previously occurred.
The next Farmers Market by RADA is scheduled for September 28 -2011 which is the last Wednesday in that month.
This event should be the second to last such staging, the last being set for December.
The June 29 Farmers Market incorporated locations at Mandeville, Negril, Kingston, Montego Bay, Port Maria and as usual at the original home of the Farmer’s Market; Hope Gardens on the Ministry of Agriculture’s football field.
To date RADA has between January to June 2011, held Farmers Markets at 54 locations across the country.
RADA co-ordinates the Farmers’ Markets and is on a break from the event specifically to focus on its Denbigh preparations.
