Farmers Urged to Register with RADA

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, has re-emphasised the need for farmers to officially register with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), in order to benefit from State programmes.

Addressing farmers at a National Irish Potato Stakeholders’ Seminar, in Claremont, St. Ann, on October 18, Mr. Hutchinson said agriculture is a major player in the nation’s growth strategies, and that registering was a key way in which farmers could be connected with agricultural extension services and resources.

“The first thing that we need to do is to make sure that all of us are registered with RADA. Those of you who are going to be planting Irish potato or onions or any other crop, if you really want any assistance, you have to be registered with RADA as a genuine farmer,” the Minister stressed.

He also encouraged the farmers to get organised and become a part of, or form their own farmers’ groups, as these are the preferred routes through which RADA channels State benefits. This, he said, ensures that resources reach persons who are genuinely practising agriculture.

Mr. Hutchinson also restated the Government’s commitment to ensuring that idle Crown lands are put to use by farmers who are interested in using them for agricultural purposes. He said, contrary to widely held beliefs, many young people are interested in getting involved in agriculture, but are hindered as they have no legal access to land.

“We have many persons who want land, to go into agricultural production – and when I go into the country, I find quite a number of young people who are interested in agriculture,” he said.

Mr. Hutchinson said he is earnestly seeking out areas where government lands are located, and had, in fact, been successful in obtaining approximately 200 acres of land on behalf of a farmers’ groups in St. Ann, through the National Land Agency (NLA).

He told the farmers to inform him of any idle government lands in which they are interested, so that his Ministry can take the steps to make the necessary application to ensure they get access.