RADA organises farmers' market in Lucea

Claudia Gardner, Assignment Coordinator

WESTERN BUREAU:The Hanover Advisory Board of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) staged a Yuletide Open Day and Farmers' Market at the Watson Taylor Park in Lucea last Thursday.

According to RADA Parish Manager for Hanover, Sadie Dixon, her agency has been trying to stage a monthly farmers' market to promote Hanover.

"At this time of the year, prices are high, so we thought we would treat the people of Hanover by providing access to fresh local produce, including fruits and vegetables. I think the farmers are happy about this because it provides them with an avenue for marketing their produce. We are hoping that we can make this (exposition aspect) an annual event for Hanover," she said.

Chairperson of the fundraising committee of the RADA Advisory Board, Hyacinth Shakes Warren, told Western Focus that the event was also being staged to raise funds to rehabilitate Hanover's booth at the Denbigh Showground in Clarendon, the venue for Jamaica's premier agricultural show.

"The pavilion that is there is totally dilapidated," Shakes Warren said. "The board's aim is to raise funds from the business persons in Hanover and supporters of Hanover for the project. So we aim to demolish what is there and start afresh and put up a proper building because it is difficult to refurbish due to the state that it is in now.

"We will not be able to do it all at once, so we will do it in phases. We are in the process of doing estimates to send out letters to the different donor organisations to see how much they can take on," she added.

One farmer, Alvarine Reid of March Town, who was in attendance, told Western Focus that she was very pleased with the RADA initiative.

"It is nice here. It is the first time it's being held at Watson Taylor Park and I enjoy it. The only thing is that they need to do it more often for the farmers. I support them (RADA) 100 per cent because if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't get to sell my yams. I am happy," she said.

Another farmer, Bevan Griffiths of Green Island, said she, too, was pleased with the effort but would have liked to see more patrons visiting the venue.

"It is a great effort! The customers are not really flowing in enough, but we are enjoying it. It is a good effort for our parish. The venue is nice. It is beautiful. The only thing is that we would like the people to flow in more next time, so next time, they should promote it more," Griffiths said.

And bee farmer Donald Campbell of Dias also sang his praises. He said he was hoping to see events of this nature being staged more often in the parish and more farmers groups participating.

"I am pleased to have seen the turnout of the farmers. I see a lot of Lucea yam here and I can see that farming is going on well in the parish. It is very good that RADA put on this event so that we can highlight what the farmers are doing in the parish. This is the best farmers' market I have seen since we started this thing in Hanover earlier in the year. I have seen a lot of Hanover farmers here. Some of the ones before, we did not see a lot of Hanover farmers. But it is a Hanover expo, so you have to expose Hanover produce and highlight the farmers from Hanover," he said.