Mechanised ploughing for local farmers

With the objective being to reduce the amount of time farmers spend ploughing lands, the Ministry of Agriculture on Monday, July 14 launched its Agricultural Mechanisation programme through assistance by the Farmers Support Company (FSC).{{more}}

Minister of Agriculture, Saboto Caesar, speaking during the launch of the initiative at a three-acre farm in Mount Greenan,revealed that some 1000 acres will be brought under production by utilising tractor services.

He further explained that compared to manual labour, the tractor services will significantly reduce the length of time taken for farmers to prepare the lands.

“The Ministry will be working in collaboration with private tractor owners. And we encourage private owners to come forward and lend their services to farmers across SVG,” the Minister said.

“Under ordinary working hours, it will take three weeks to work on the land to plow for the planting of potatoes.

“However, with the use of a tractor, this process can take up to 15 minutes to get the job done and prepared in a way where the planting process can be done,” Caesar added.

Caesar disclosed that to date, several individuals have already registered as “Service Providers” for tractor services for these farmers.

Farmers are being urged to get on board with the tractor services program, which according to the minister, will be provided on a credit service, where no down payment is needed.

However the cost to use the services will be deducted from their reaping.

“We are now asking farmers to register with the agricultural stations in the different locations, speak to the extension officers, get the information to them …

“Farmers must first get in touch with the extension officer in the region. The extension officer is going to time table a day when the tractor will be available to visit the farmer,” he explained.

Farmers, extension officers along with the tractor services providers are advised to meet on site to verify the acreage that has been ploughed and the farmer would have to sign off to confirm that he has received his justice. After reaping, the FCS will deduct from sales, the monies that were charged, a release from the ministry said.

Meanwhile, Chief Agriculture Officer, Leslie Grant said he believes that the programme will improve the quality of production through the uniformity of ploughing techniques used by farmers.