Natasha Gutherie inspects one of the many chickens she has in James Mountain, St Catherine yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

At a time when the economic crunch is on and hopelessness looms, one St Catherine woman has determined that her best hope for survival is through chicken farming.

Natasha Murphy represents the average rural folk and lights up the James Mountain community near Sligoville, St Catherine, through her hard-working habits which have allowed her some level of self-reliance.

The 24-year-old past student of Jose Marti Technical High School said her role as a chicken farmer began about four years ago when she was unable to find a job.

"Chicken farming is my job and it is something that I am very proud of, as it keeps me occupied and gives me a sense of achievement," Murphy told The Gleaner yesterday.

"It is hard work, but it helps to pay the bills.''

The petite farmer said that, though she wanted to expand her business, she was content to continue on a small scale for now.

''I grow them (chickens) in groups of 100 to supply the local people," she explained.

"They are the ones who keep encouraging me. I would like to do more in the business, but more financial help is required," she added.

Murphy said each bag of feed cost $1,000 and it took 20 to take care of each batch of chickens over the six-week period it takes for them to mature.

Each batch of 100 chicks costs $5,510, along with other supplies required to raise healthy chickens.

On average, chicken costs about $110 per pound wholesale and $128 per pound at the supermarket.

Several people in the rural community told The Gleaner that more trendsetters like Murphy were needed to create the kind of collective resilience needed to change the area, which is filled with idle lands and a high rate of unemployment.

rasbert.turner@gleanerjm.com