MONTEGO BAY, St James—Junior Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Ian Hayles, says that more than 130 persons are to be employed to the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) under the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP).

Set to cost the Government $78 million, Hayles said, the programme will begin next month.

“Under JEEP over the next couple of weeks every parish will be getting extra staffing. At least ten at each RADA office,” Hayles said.

The junior minister made the disclosure on Wednesday, while addressing farmers and staff of the RADA St James office in Montego Bay.

He told the gathering that some of the employees will be involved in the distribution of planting material, in an effort to satisfy the growing demand for agricultural inputs.

The move, he said, is aimed at reducing the country’s food import bill.

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