Vernetta Simpson (right), explains the benefits of using her Herbal Chaney Roots drink, manufactured under the Healing Sun brand, to the Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (2nd left), Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, during a tour of exhibits at the 21st staging of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) St. Thomas Open Day held at the Rudolph Elder Park in Morant Bay on June 28. Listening keenly, from left, are Bevin Martin Dickenson, Parish Agricultural Manager, and Peter Thompson, Chief Executive Officer, both of RADA.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, the Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, had high praises for the Rural Agricultural Development Authority’s school-feeding project in St. Thomas, where fruit plates and fruit juices are packaged and sold to 22 schools in the parish on a daily basis.
Under this project, which started in 2018, fruits such as pineapple, melon, sorrel, June plum and otaheite apples are purchased from local farmers and processed and packaged at the agro-processing facility located at the RADA St. Thomas office.
“We want this to be a sustainable venture,” said Minister Hutchinson, who emphasised the need for children to have a proper breakfast.
Minister Hutchinson was speaking at the 21st staging of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) St Thomas Open Day held at the Rudolph Elder Park in Morant Bay on June 28.
In emphasising the importance of moving production along the value chain, Minister Hutchinson congratulated the agro-processors within the parish while stating that the farmers would not be left out of the development that will be taking place in St. Thomas as one of the five agro-economic zones to be established islandwide would be located there.
“I also wish to recognise the efforts of the 65 farmers who planted 26 hectares of onion and harvested 375.5 tonnes,” said Minister Hutchinson, as he commended the St. Thomas farmers within the Plantain Garden River, Yallahs and Seaforth areas for their contribution towards import substitution.
Other achievements in the parish included the harvesting of some 94,473 kg of onions by 78 farmers in the Cedar Valley, Albion Mountain, Penlyne Castle, Grove Hill and Hagleys Gap districts as well as the reaping of 8.8 hectares of cassava by 20 farmers in the Plantain Garden River Agro-Park in partnership with Red Stripe’s cassava planting project.
The minister also noted the significant contribution of the farmers in St. Thomas to the first shipment of 12, 000 pounds of mangoes to the United Sates on June 13.
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