Minister of Agriculture Floyd Green has handed over six walk-behind tractors and six earth augers to assist farmers in hilly areas to address long-standing issues of labour shortage and mechanisation within the agricultural sector.

Speaking at the November 26 handover ceremony at the Amity Hall Agro-Park in St. Catherine, the minister pointed out that the equipment will assist in fast-tracking the sector’s output and restore economic livelihoods in a short period of time, especially in key agricultural zones.

He added that this will assist in the ministry’s strategy of targeting parishes that were not hard hit by Hurricane Melissa to start the agricultural sector’s recovery.

“We’re looking to recover agriculture right across Jamaica, but we know there are some farmers that are ready to go now, who have been hit but have not been hit as hard as some of the farmers in the west, and so we’re providing these pieces of equipment so that they can get out there,” Minister Green said.

He noted that the tractors and earth augers, which were provided through partnership with the Agro-Invest Corporation (AIC), Delta Supply Company Limited and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), will be distributed in parishes targeting arable but difficult terrain to mechanise farmers’ operations.

These include the hilly terrain of St. Ann, Clarendon, Manchester, Trelawny, St. Catherine and St. Elizabeth.

He pointed out that the earth augers will be especially useful for yam farmers to help with digging holes for yam sticks, noting that yam was one of the hardest-hit products from the hurricane, totalling a financial loss of over J$4.5 billion.

Minister Green disclosed that over 70 per cent of the yam crop has been lost in North Manchester and almost all of the crop in South Trelawny has been wiped out, with an estimated six to 18 months cited to restart the sector.

“So, the supply of these walk-behind tractors will greatly assist in reducing the high cost and greatly assist in ensuring that where our farmers do not have the labour that they’re seeking… these solutions make it easy for one individual to operate on huge parcels of land,” he said, adding that the items will also assist in strengthening farmers’ livelihoods.

The minister noted that the distribution of the tractors and earth augers aligns with other support being provided by the ministry to farmers to assist with the recovery of the sector, including free land clearance for up to six months.

The service will be provided through RADA, with farmers operating on land that is one to five acres in size receiving free land preparation for up to one acre; land that is five to 10 acres will be prepared for up to two acres free of cost, while land 10 acres and bigger will be cleared up to three acres for free.

Private tractor owners are also asked to participate, but must first register with RADA to be eligible to offer the service.