Farmers In St. Thomas ‘Connect’ with RADA Support

Farmers in several rural communities in St. Thomas gained direct access to agricultural services and technical support during the latest staging of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Connect initiative in Cedar Valley.

The outreach activity was held at Bethel Gap Square on Tuesday (March 10), and catered to residents from Ness Castle, Bethel, Cedar Grove, Penlyne Castle, Monkland, Albion Mountain, Richmond Gap, and Richmond Vale.

RADA Connect is a structured outreach programme designed to deliver the agency’s full range of services directly to farming communities, particularly those that are difficult to access.

Through the initiative, RADA conducts targeted field visits, provides technical guidance on crop and livestock recovery strategies, facilitates on the spot farm registration, and supports farmers in accessing market information and extension services via the RADA Mobile App.

Farmers can also renew or update their identification cards, engage with partner agencies and stakeholders, and receive diagnoses for pest and disease samples.

Deputy RADA St. Thomas Parish Office Manager, Tadj Barclay, highlighted the role of the mobile app in helping farmers stay connected with extension services.

“Farmers can… schedule visits with their extension officers. They can also get real-time information as it relates to crop or livestock issues,” he informed.

Mr. Barclay further indicated that, “farmers… [can check] if they are in line to get a duty concession from RADA… and also production incentive, also from the programme”.

He noted that the farmer identification card can also be used by farmers “to update their farming activities”.

In addition to field visits and technical guidance, farmers were able to access a range of other services on site on Tuesday.

Among those attending the event was Penlyne Castle farmer, Shaquane McDonald, who cultivates coffee, banana, plantain, lemon and pineapple.

He shared that it was his first time attending a RADA Connect activity, and he used the opportunity to register for his farmer identification card.

“The reason for me to turn out [was] to get my RADA ID to continue doing farming, because farming is nice and we know we have to grow what we eat,” he said.

Mr. McDonald described the initiative as a positive step for farming communities in the area.

“It’s a good thing because… the whole area is a farming area. We up here in the hills, that’s what we do… farming. So [RADA Connect] is a great thing, for us to improve,” he added.