Farmers islandwide will have easier access to a range of equipment and inputs through an initiative by the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) to establish a farm store in every parish.

JAS President Norman Grant yesterday said $50 million has been earmarked for the undertaking.

He said the association was aiming to set up a farm store in the six parishes where there are no JAS farm stores.

They will provide fertiliser, seeds, tools and a variety of other products and services.

"We want to provide input to farmers at a more competitive price," Grant said.

The JAS has been working on business plans to have all the farm stores established by the latest August 2009.

At the same time, the JAS yesterday started selling government-imported fertiliser at its farm stores in Clarendon, Portland, Manchester, St James, Westmoreland, St Ann and Kingston and St Andrew.

Last Friday, the organisation distributed some 80 tonnes of the commodity from its Church Street head office to its branches.

"We are very excited," Grant said.

The fertiliser is being sold by the Government for the recommended price below $3,500.

Imported fertiliser

After increased cries from farmers about escalating fertiliser prices offered by Newport Fersan Jamaica Limited - the island's sole manufacturer of inorganic fertiliser - the Government decided to import the commodity.

Fertiliser prices spiked to about $7,000 per 50-kilogram bag earlier this year and, last month, the Government's first batch of 500 tonnes arrived in the island.

Grant, however, said JAS wants to negotiate with Newport Fersan for the distribution of its fertiliser, amid a wave of woes hitting the manufacturing firm.

Almost two weeks ago, Newport Fersan issued redundancy letters to six members of its staff. Since the Government entered the market, its sales dropped by 66 per cent in October.

"Once they bring their prices down, that is affordable to farmers, we will source from them," said Grant.

shelly-ann.thompson@gleanerjm.com