Minister of Agriculture Dr Christopher Tufton. - File

Some 6,000 farmers in Trelawny are to benefit from several Ministry of Agriculture initiatives and projects, valued at over $18 million, including the refurbishing of the Wait-a-bit Multi-Purpose Building.

During a tour of Trelawny last Wednesday, Minister of Agriculture Dr Christopher Tufton told farmers in Wait-a-bit that the old building was being refurbished as part of Government's initiatives to enhance the marketing of yam and other agricultural produce in Trelawny. The building, which has been closed for over 20 years, will be leased to private sector interests, including local farmers, and will operate as a central buying station for farmers in the surrounding communities.

"We are upgrading the plant and providing the technical support, but the government will not manage the day-to-day operations," said Minister Tufton.

Disease

Addressing a farmers' forum in Albert Town, Minister Tufton said with funding from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) will, in the next several days, disburse $4 million to assist 60 farmers to restore two varieties of yams - sweet and negro yam. The tubers have been severely affected by Anthracnose disease and Nematodes during the last three years.

As part of the ministry's programme of fostering partnership among farmers and to promote cooperative farming, the Producers Marketing and Organisations (PMO) are being revived across the island. Dr Tufton disclosed that PMO members in Trelawny, during this week, will receive $2.3 million to assist with fertiliser purchasing, and seeds valued at $2.2 million. RADA will allocate the resources and monitor the input supplies.

"Some $250,000 has been allocated to provide institutional support and direct subsidy to farmers in this parish," the minister added.

Pepper nursery

In response to the increasing demand for peppers, the minister said the Agricultural Support Services Project (ASSP) would be establishing a 'pepper nursery' in Trelawny at a cost of $800,000. This nursery has the capacity to produce seedlings for as much as 50 acres of land.