Mrs. Bevene Martin – Dickenson, was among nine distinguished women in agriculture who were awarded by the Agriculturalist at a prestigious event at the Medallion Hall, Kingston on April 22, 20222.  The illustrious women who were awarded (in the varied fields of Agriculture) include:

Dr. Gabrielle Young

Mrs. Olive Downer- Walsh

Mrs. Donna Marie McPherson

Ms. Kateisha Allen

Ms. Merlyn McDuffie

Ms. Tanika Oconnor Dennie

Mrs. Doreen Brown – Lawson

Mrs. Jannett Pullen

A team from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MOAF), Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), National Irrigation Commission (NIC), input suppliers and others led by Hon. Floyd Green, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries had a farm visit to Model Agricultural Production Limited (MAP) on Tuesday, June 2, 2021 at Innswood, St. Catherine. The team witnessed the outstanding efforts made through the utilization of technology and experimentation to increase onion and pumpkin production (among others) on a large scale.

Did you know that RADA currently assists persons to turn a solid business idea into a lucrative business venture, this can be done through the RADA Small Business Development Centre (SBDC).

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) continues to support the Eat Jamaican Month Celebration, on this the 17^th anniversary of the event organized by the Jamaica Agricultural Society in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries (MICAF).                     

The essence of the ‘Eat Jamaican’ Campaign was borne out of the need to encourage consumers to recognize, support and to have a greater appreciation for the range and quality of Jamaica’s Agricultural produce and products.

Imagine hitting the ground going 20 miles per hour. Well, according to the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach article “Reduce Potential Soil Erosion in the Spring,” this is the speed of a raindrop in a normal rainfall.

• When the raindrop hits the ground it will splash soil particles from 3 to 5 feet.
  
  • This action breaks up soil aggregates, clogs soil pores reducing infiltration and increasing runoff of both water and the soil it is carrying.

Based on preliminary assessment undertaken by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) of the damage to domestic crop and livestock production (October 2020), it was estimated that over 11,000 farmers suffered losses at a value of approximately $1.8B. Below is a list of recommendations to farmers who are able to commence the recovery efforts in the shortest possible time.

The Hon. Floyd Green, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries has hosted a series of meetings with farmers and fisher-folk through an island-wide Listening Tour. This tour commenced on Thursday, October 1, 2020 through to Saturday, October 24, 2020.

With the main purpose to ascertain the concerns, challenges, daily issues and interests of the fisher-folk and farmers, this information was collated to ensure that a plan of action is crafted to assist in directing the priorities and most urgent matters to be dealt with by the Minister.

During the tumultuous experiences of the COVID -19 pandemic, 46 farmers from the Mount Airy Farmers Group were able to successfully participate in a Climate Resilience Farmer Field School Training Project undertaken by the Nature Conservancy/ Coca Cola in collaboration with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority.

 The project commenced on February 17, 2020 through a sensitization session with farmers followed by a series of practical training exercises. The farmers were engaged and eagerly participated using the FFS methodology of learning without walls.

On June 20, 2020, Supreme Ventures Group (SVG) collaborated with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) to distribute care packages with fresh produce to residents the Gregory Park community in the Caymanas Park area. Many of these residents originally maintained their livelihood at the race track that has been closed for the past two months.

This initiative originates from a the COVID-19 Jamaica Response Fund organized through the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica which sees corporate entities donating towards COVID-19 relief efforts in challenged communities.

The RADA On-Farm Water Management Unit was dubbed the quick and immediate response team as the Unit took decisive action in providing much needed assistance to farmers of the Red Lands Production and Marketing Organization in Redlands Clarendon.

On Thursday, June 18, 2020, at a brief Handing Over Ceremony The Red Lands PMO received 1000 feet conveyance system and 3 rolls of 50mm (100) polyethylene hose and fittings to assist in repairing sections of the irrigation system that was damaged in a recent bush fire.