In keeping with our commitment to expand our extension services to our farmers, we are pleased to introduce 20 new extension officers to work in the field. This represents a 30% increase in extension officers over last year, and represents the first stage of a process to double the extension service during this parliamentary year.

Over the next six months the MOA, lead by RADA and the Veterinary Services Division will be recruiting another forty extension officers. These will include a marketing officer to assist farmers with market information, a animal health technician to support farmers with better animal husbandry practices and a business development officer to support farmers in better business modeling. All extension officers will be formally trained in their respective areas of expertise to ensure that farmer get the best advice and support in the field.

Today we are also unveiling the uniformed and accessorized extension officer. Over the next month all extension officers will be required to wear a standard uniform which will include a branded RADA shirt. Similarly to support their efforts, all extension officers will be equipped with an extension kit comprising over 25 pieces of equipment. This extension kit is another demonstration of the Government’s commitment to modernizing the sector by providing our officers with the tools to do their jobs. Armed with these kits, extension officers will be able to protect themselves during their daily work and offer the best services to farmers, to check soils, plants and animals on spot or to collect samples for lab testing. The extension officer is the farmers’ doctor and so must be dependable and credible.

All this is in keeping with the Governments commitment to modernize RADA to better serve our farmers and the agriculture sector.