The Government, in keeping with its thrust to increase the country's agricultural productivity levels, will spend roughly $24 million to increase the number of extension service officers serving the island.

Twenty new agricultural employees, including extension and marketing officers, were introduced to sector stakeholders at a press conference held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston yesterday.

The addition pushes to 80, the number of extension officers working under the auspices of the Rural Agricultural and Development Authority (RADA).

Al Powell, executive director of RADA, said the $24 million was primarily being spent on wages for the 20 service officers, until the end of the financial year.

The agriculture ministry hopes to increase the number of extension officers to 120 members. This, Powell said, would be enough to provide technical support to the 200,000 farmers islandwide.

Agriculture Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said the recruited officers should operate as "'the farmers' doctors'."