• Category

  • Content Type

250 Roadways Rehabilitated Under National Farm Road Programme

By: , December 20, 2019

The Key Point:

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, says that 250 roads islandwide have been improved under the Government’s National Farm Road Programme.
250 Roadways Rehabilitated Under National Farm Road Programme
Photo: Serena Grant
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (centre), cuts the ribbon to open the rehabilitated Marl Road community roadway, in Balaclava, St. Elizabeth, on Thursday (December 19). Sharing the moment are Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Peter Thompson (right) and Member of Parliament for North East St. Elizabeth, Evon Redman. The road was repaired as part of the Ministry’s National Farm Road Programme.

The Facts

  • He was speaking at the official opening of the rehabilitated roadways in the Marl Road and Castleton communities, in Balaclava, St. Elizabeth, on Thursday (December 19).
  • “We have spent over $1.8 billion on roughly 250 roads throughout the length and breadth of this island,” the Minister said.

The Full Story

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, says that 250 roads islandwide have been improved under the Government’s National Farm Road Programme.

He was speaking at the official opening of the rehabilitated roadways in the Marl Road and Castleton communities, in Balaclava, St. Elizabeth, on Thursday (December 19).

“We have spent over $1.8 billion on roughly 250 roads throughout the length and breadth of this island,” the Minister said.

“I want to congratulate all the persons from the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) who have made this possible. We have done our best to see if we can help the farmers in the various communities,” Mr. Hutchinson said.

He further noted that since implementation of the programme, “we have assisted 15,934 farmers across the island”.

The programme forms part of the Government’s initiative to improve farm roads and the economic viability of agricultural activities within rural Jamaica.

More than 70 farmers in the Marl Road community and 80 farmers from Castleton are set to benefit from rehabilitation of the roadways.

Farmers in the nearby communities rear livestock and produce cocoa, cash crops and yams.

The farm road programme, which is implemented by RADA, has allowed for increased market access to farmers, agro-processors and marketing entrepreneurs.

It has also stimulated growth in domestic crop and livestock production, and improvement in household incomes.

Last Updated: December 23, 2019

Jamaica Information Service