FOURTEEN FARMERS from Mafoota in St. James are being trained in a 12-week co-operative management course as part of preparations to enlist their group as a registered co-operative.The farmers, operating as a 'special group' have been participating in the Sandals/Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Mafoota vegetable project for a considerable period, producing exotic and other vegetables for Sandals' hotels in Montego Bay.
As part of the project, the hotel provides the farmers with vegetable seeds and marketing opportunities, while RADA assists with technical support.
Sadie Dixon, the acting marketing extension officer for RADA, St. James, said that the farmers produced at satisfactory levels in 2003 and that they were considering expanding into the export market.
However, she said that RADA's Co-operative department requires that groups be trained before they can operate as a co-operative.
Training of the Mafoota farmers began in October 2003 and will be completed in this month. Upon completion, the participants will be evaluated and if they meet the prescribed standards, the group will be registered as a co-operative.
The farmers have applied to the Agricultural Support Services Project for funds to purchase a cold storage and to improve their grading,
packaging, land preparation and irrigation systems.
