There has been a 12 per cent increase in sweet yam production under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries’ Production Incentive Programme for the 2019/20 fiscal year when compared to the corresponding period of 2018/19.
Acting Senior Director of Production Marketing and Special Projects at RADA, Collin Henry, informed that a total of 55 of the 130 hectares of the produce has been reaped, producing 800 tonnes valued $150 million.
“This the farmers can use to be able to care of themselves and their families. To date, we have spent approximately $30 million dollars on sweet yam,” Mr. Henry explained.
A total of 500 farmers are involved in the growth of sweet yam across the island in South St. James; Endeavour and Madras in St. Ann; James Hill and Thompson Town in Clarendon; Mile Gully in Manchester and South Trelawny, which is often times referred to as the Mecca of yam production in Jamaica.
Mr. Henry, who has oversight for sweet yam, which is one of the nine crops being targeted under the $1.6-billion programme, indicated that the crops are imperative to safeguarding Jamaica’s food security.
He also indicated that the growth of sweet yam, as well as the other crops, will help to reduce rural to urban drift and contribute to rural development, sustaining rural farmers and their families.
“The growth of sweet yam among the farmers has also managed to secure employment in rural communities,” he added.
“This is the reason the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries and RADA have taken this holistic approach to provide farmers with clean planting material and other inputs to maximize production and productivity so that we can obtain market access both locally and internationally,” Mr. Henry continued.
Under the Production Incentive Programme, other crops such as ginger, dasheen, hot pepper, Irish potatoes, onion, strawberry and cassava are being targeted for development. The aim is to increase and sustain agricultural production to meet market demand. Over 4,000 farmers will benefit, directly and indirectly.
Farmers have also benefitted from technical expertise through training sessions, meetings and field demonstrations. The agency has also provided material support by distributing planting materials, agricultural chemicals such as insecticides and fungicides, plastic mulch, irrigation and spraying equipment.
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