The Rural Development Authority (RADA) this week handed over 12 tractors to several of their Parish Offices cross the country, as a part of the Authority’s plan to increase efficient farming practices; more in keeping with contemporary global standards.
The value of the tractors is tallied at 18 point 3 million dollars.
The tractor inputs which will be made available to farmers to rent for usage, as part of their daily farming practices are expected to significantly improve and increase yields and output, necessary to help Jamaica deal with the issue of food security through modern agricultural practices.
Eight handheld units were handed over to the RADA parish offices in St. Andrew, St. James, St. Mary, Trelawny, Clarendon, St. Catherine and Manchester.
The RADA Clarendon and St. Catherine parish offices received both handheld and four wheeled tractors, due to the high demand for the services of these implements in those two parishes, as logged by the Authority.
Meanwhile large rubber wheel tractors were also handed over to the RADA parish offices in Hanover specifically to the Knockalva Agricultural school there, to help with student training -as well as the RADA St. Elizabeth Parish office.
In March 2011, a contract for the procurement of four large rubber wheel tractors with implements and eight walk behind tractors was awarded to Machines and Parts Export (MAPEX).
According to RADA’s Chief Executive Officer Al Powell, it was identified by research done by the Authority, that farmers experience long waiting periods for tractor services, resulting in reduced cropping times annually.
In fact some farmers are only able to plant one crop per year, due to lack of tillage equipment.
At the handover it was disclosed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries realizes that in order to adequately deal with the issue of food security, a holistic approach is needed.
The acquisition and provisioning of essential agricultural inputs to farmers is a chief agenda item, and is receiving focus as a critical driver in the development of the sector’s capacity to sufficiently meet the basic food requirements of the population.
The Food Sovereignty and Security Agreement of the PETROCARIBE and ALBA (Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas) Member Countries, made available 2 million US Dollars to assist the venture.
Through the implementation of this project, five important areas were identified for enhancing Jamaica’s ability to become food secure.
These include the acquisition of seeds, fertilizers, farm machinery and equipment, land preparation and the construction of abattoirs which will be distributed island wide and will target the over seven hundred (700) Production Marketing and Organisation (PMO) groups that are in the production areas.
The Authority is sure that the provision of these inputs will help in alleviating some of the difficulties facing farmers and by extension the sector.
Photo Credit: Lennoy Prendergast
Pictured aboard one of four large four wheeled tractors handed over Maia Chung Director of Communications and Public Relations of RADA Jamaica
From the RADA Communication’s Department
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