Spice Farmers Encouraged to Buy into JaSPICE Project

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is appealing to farmers of turmeric, ginger and pimento to engage with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food for Progress Jamaica Spices (JaSPICE) project, to improve their crop production.

The project, being implemented over a five-year period, is now in its ‘extension’ phase where research into new and improved farming practices is transferred to and implemented by participating farmers.

Director for Strategic Planning and Projects at RADA, Vaughn Barnaby, informed JIS News that farmers who wish to participate can reach out to RADA parish offices.

“Get on board, it’s a good opportunity for those who are interested in expanding their existing production with better quality planting material, which will lead to higher production, and more money in your pockets,” Mr. Barnaby said.

He added that farmers with many acres of land also stand to benefit from participating in the project by maximising the use of their properties.

“For those who are interested, who have large acres of land and want to have those lands in production, especially those properties that are in the inner sections of the country that are of hilly terrain, and suited well for agroforestry that we are pushing, you can utilise your property and put it into production, so reach out to us and we can get that going,” Mr. Barnaby told JIS News.

The JaSPICE Project is being implemented in collaboration with RADA, the Jamaica Agricultural Commodity Regulatory Authority (JACRA), Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and farmer-based organisations.