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Field Trips

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is Jamaica’s chief agricultural extension and rural development agency. RADA is committed to promoting the development of agriculture in Jamaica, as the main engine of economic growth in rural communities, through an efficient, modern and sustainable extension service which will enhance the national economy and improve the quality of life of rural farm families. RADA gears towards enhancing the development of farming through an effective, efficient and sustainable Extension Service. Participants will be exposed to Jamaica’s extension services which will take the form of field visits. Highlights of the different strategies and innovations implemented in Jamaica by farmers to combat climate change impacts and disaster management will be showcased under the different field visit. The field trip will covers the categories as follows: Crop Production and Agro- processing, Livestock and Agricultural Education, Agro parks and Farmers Groups.

 

Crop Production and Agro Processing

  • Field trip 1- Crop Production and Agro processing

Participants will be exposed to the good agricultural practices implemented by farmers in Jamaica to mitigate against climate change and disaster management. Major crop farms will be visited where the participants will see the different technologies and innovations that exist and those developed by farmers in the island to be more resilient and climate smart while improving production and productivity.

Visit to Agro processing facilities will also be a compliment to the field trip where participants get to see value-added production systems in place for farmers to utilize, showcase farmers’ product line and extensions involvement in guiding farmers to produce sustainable products.

 

Livestock and Agricultural Education

Field trip 2 - Livestock and Agricultural Education

This tour will allow participants to visit livestock farms highlighting innovative strategies being used by farmers to combat the negative impact of climate change such as silage production, establishment of fodder banks and production of multi-nutrient blocks).  Participants will also be exposed to reproductive technologies (artificial insemination and embryo transfer) that are being implemented to protect and upgrade the genetic component of animals.   Agricultural Institutions which are geared towards developing the capacity of youth and farmers will also be visited.   Attention will also be given to the commercial production of selected livestock and the development of value added products (leather craft, products from goat’s milk).

Extension services in livestock production, school garden program and youth involvement will be a component of this trip.

 

Agro Parks

Field trip 3- Agro Parks

Participants will visit one major Agro Park in Jamaica; where they will get to see the practices farmers utilize along with technology to produce crops in an area that is constantly dry and has rapid pest issues as a result of climate change.  The importance of Agro Parks to farmers and Agricultural Extension delivery will be discussed.

 

Farmers’ Group

Field trip 4- Farmers’ Group

Complementary to this trip will be visits to farmers group that are driven independently to produce at maximum level in a sustainable way and to view “Farming as a Business”. Farmer field school methodology will be discussed and testimonials from farmers will be highlighted. Farmers will showcase what they are doing as a group to be resilience to natural disaster.