Agriculture minister Dr Christopher Tufton says his ministry is aiming to have an additional 54 Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) officers in place by April 2009 to assist farmers across the country.

Addressing farmers in Bamboo, St Ann, recently, Tufton said when he took office last September there were 60 extension officers and 60 assistants.

"Since then, we have brought on-board 20 new extension officers. We are now recruiting another 40 extension officers, in addition we are recruiting 14 animal-health technicians (to help livestock farmers)," said Tufton.

"Overall, by April of next year when the new Budget is read, it is the hope of the ministry and the Government to have in place 74 new players in the field working with farmers across Jamaica," he added.

Tough task

The minister said the number of extension officers needed to assist Jamaica's farmers were inadequate as the ratio was in the region of one officer to 2,000 farmers.

"It is almost impossible for one extension officer to serve 2,000 plus farmers. We want, ideally, one extension officer for a maximum of 500 farmers and that means we are going to have to bring on-board many more extension officers over time," said Tufton.

He explained that over the next two years another 240 extension officers would be brought on-board.

Tufton told the farmers that he wanted them to utilise the services being offered by RADA and stressed the importance of the extension officers doing their job properly.

Buying house

According to Tufton, the Ministry of Agriculture was also looking at setting up a buying house for farmers' produce, similar to the Agricultural Marketing Corporation.

The minister said he wanted farmers to get more of the money being earned from their produce as it was they who put in the most effort. The practice of the farmer making the least money from their produce and the reseller making the most had to stop.

Tufton, who was speaking at the official opening of a new farm store in Bamboo, also handed out vouchers valued at $2,000 each to nine farmers to obtain fertiliser.

Member of Parliament for North West St Ann, Othneil Lawrence, who also spoke, said he would be launching an agriculture project in the nearby community of Free Hill in January 2009.

He joined Tufton in commending the owners of the new farmers' store, Tufton having said prior that the store was critical to the work of the farmers.

- C.G.