Agriculture Ministry Provides RADA with Two Tractors to Boost Farmer Support
By: , May 14, 2025
Photo: Serena Grant
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, sits in one of the two tractors handed over by the Ministry to the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) St. Elizabeth and Manchester parish offices. The occasion was the launch of the RADA Connect initiative and the handover ceremony for the tractors at Newell High School in Watchwell, St. Elizabeth, on May 8.The Full Story
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining has handed over two tractors to the Rural Agricultural Development Authority’s (RADA) offices in St. Elizabeth and Manchester, enabling farmers in those parishes to access the machinery.
Speaking on May 8 during the official launch of RADA Connect at Newell High School in Watchwell, St. Elizabeth, which also served as the handover ceremony for the tractors, Portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, outlined that the units are part of the Government’s push to mechanise land preparation across Jamaica.
“One of the challenges that we do have is land preparation. We must ensure that we’re more efficient. We must ensure that we’re more productive. As such, we have been working with RADA to mechanise land preparation right across the length and breadth of Jamaica,” he stated.
“We know that we must increase the RADA equipment pool if we are going to serve more farmers, especially as we look at the challenges in relation to labour. So, in St. Elizabeth, the RADA equipment pool has three tractors, two harrows, two ridges, and a few equipment tailored for onion production and mulching. We are presenting one new RADA tractor to the parish of St. Elizabeth and a new RADA tractor to the parish of Manchester,” the Minister said.
Mr. Green indicated that the gesture also forms part of the Ministry’s drive to outfit RADA with additional equipment.
Consequently, he indicated that four additional tractors will be acquired for the agency.
The Minister further informed that a mixed model approach will be used to acquire additional tractor services to aid farmers.
“This is by far the biggest investment ever in tractor services in RADA. What we’re trying to do with the tractor services is two-fold. We’re trying to build a base so that we have our own [so that] we don’t necessarily have to depend on anybody.,” Mr. Green said.
“But we know we will never have enough. So, we’re going to use a mixed model. We will have some. But we are going to partner with the private sector because oftentimes people have tractors that are underutilised, and when a farmer needs a tractor, he needs it now… he can’t wait. So, part of what you will hear me speak about in my [2025/26 Sectoral Debate presentation] is that we’re going to be putting some funds so you can go to the private man and pay the public price,” he stated.
Mr. Green added that the Government will subsidise the cost of private contractors’ tractor services for farmers across the island.
RADA Connect aims to provide farmers with technical support, advisory services, and other resources to enhance their yields and strengthen food security across Jamaica.
As part of the initiative, farmers are also encouraged to download the RADA mobile app.