Agriculture Ministry delivers $10 million in equipment to support farmers on arable and challenging lands

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, through the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), has handed over $10 million worth of walk-behind tractors and earth augers to support farmers working on arable lands and in challenging terrain.

The equipment, procured from Delta Supply Company Limited, will be deployed across the hilly regions of St Ann, Clarendon, Manchester, Trelawny, St Catherine, and St Elizabeth.

This initiative forms part of the Ministry’s broader strategy to fast-track agricultural output, stabilise supplies, and restore livelihoods following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.

Portfolio Minister Floyd Green emphasised that the walk-behind tractors and augers will significantly reduce operational costs for farmers while addressing labour shortages.

“These solutions make it easy for one individual to operate on large parcels of land. These walk-behind tractors will alleviate labour challenges and strengthen livelihoods,” he stated at the handing-over ceremony held on Wednesday at the Amity Hall Agro Park in St Catherine.

Green highlighted that the equipment is instrumental to the Government’s recovery efforts, which build on plans established prior to the hurricane.

“A number of the plans we had around agriculture were designed to address deep-seated problems in the sector. Melissa has made those problems worse, and the need for solutions more critical,” he noted.

The agriculture minister further announced that six earth augers, particularly useful for digging holes for yam sticks, are being provided to support yam farmers.

The yam sector was among the hardest hit by Hurricane Melissa, suffering losses valued at over $4.5 billion, with more than 70 per cent of yam crops in north Manchester and south Trelawny destroyed.

Recovery is expected to take between six and 18 months.

The tractors and augers will supplement the Ministry’s ploughing strategy, which has already commenced: farmers with 1–5 acres will have the first acre ploughed free; farmers with 5–10 acres will have two acres ploughed free; farmers with over 10 acres will have three acres ploughed free.

To expand land preparation services islandwide, the Ministry is developing a database of private tractor owners through RADA.

Registered owners will be contracted to provide services, with costs covered by the Ministry for the next six months.

Farmers are encouraged to consult with RADA to access this service.

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