By Cedric Johnson, Gleaner WriterWESTMORELAND:
AN ASSISTANCE programme, from which hundreds of farmers in Westmoreland will benefit, is set to become fully operational soon. Tillage, mushroom production and a Rural Economic Agricultural Project will form the main thrust of the programme.
"It is part of our effort to encourage farmers to increase their production; we are appealing to them to become registered so they can access these benefits," said Denver Thorpe, parish organiser of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) in Westmoreland, speaking to Western Focus.
COVERAGE
Mr. Thorpe who pointed out that the farmers who will now be covered by the recently passed Praedial Larceny Act, are being given farm inputs such as vegetable seeds, fertiliser, pesticides and farm tools.
"In addition, a window of marketing opportunity is opening up for the farmers who will be able to sell their produce through an arrangement with Food For The Poor," said Mr. Thorpe who disclosed that a large number of farmers have already been registered and are receiving benefits.
As part of the drive to increase food production, the JAS organiser disclosed that 15 acres of the UDC - owned Mount Edgecombe property in the Bluefields area of Westmoreland, has been acquired through a lease arrangement. The Jamaica Agricultural Society, he said, has been working with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) in respect of the selection of beneficiary farmers and payment plans.
Mr. Thorpe told Western Focus that five youngsters from the National Youth Service (NYS), are at present in training with the JAS. He said the training would give them a brief insight in the field of agriculture in the hope they would take it on as a vocation.
He also revealed that during this week, some farmers in the parish would receive Hurricane Ivan relief benefits through the JAS branches. The assistance, made possible through funding from the Council of Voluntary Social Services' United Way of Jamaica, will include
vegetable seeds, fertiliser, pesticides and tools including the use of
a mistblower insect spraying equipment.
