Some 104,830 farmers are currently registered under the National Farmer Registration Programme, with 2,177 added since September, when the programme was rebranded and relaunched.

Additionally, since October 2007, 11,000 farmers were registered by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) under the programme.

Al Powell, executive director of RADA, said registration targets have been set on a parish-by-parish basis, with the aim of registering a total 10,800 farmers by year-end.

Purpose of registration

The primary purpose of the registration exercise is to facilitate long-term planning for the development of the sector and to fast-track relief assistance following a natural disaster. To this end, as part of the exercise, RADA will be compiling a comprehensive database of farmers islandwide, the size of their holdings and the crops they are producing, together with the number and types of animals being reared on each farm.

At the same time, as part of the agriculture ministry's drive to modernise the sector, RADA extension officers are now equipped with state-of-the-art tools.

The farming aid equipment includes soil augers, soil-testing kits, Global Positioning System receivers, brix refractometers and pH meters.

Benefits for registered farmers

Lower interest rates on agricultural loans

Assistance with farm equipment

Inputs and training in modern farming techniques.