'Diversify to Compete' - 80 St Catherine farmers chosen to 'Diversify to Compete'

Karen Sudu, Gleaner Writer

THE 80 FARMERS from north St Catherine who have been selected to benefit under the European Union Banana Support Programme (EUBSP)-funded project 'Diversify to Compete' have embraced the initiative.

Under the project, the cultivators only have to provide no less than one acre of land for specially selected crops. Then, they are given start-up planting materials such as pumpkin seeds, yams, string beans, ginger, turmeric, and sweet potato.

Like Rosel Wright of Middlesex, Guys Hill, most of them received their material from as early as the middle of the year.

"I received ginger and sweet potato plants sometime in June. This is very good because some of the time I want planting material, but can't afford it. And you know this project just come on stream and help us with planting materials and fertiliser, for which we are very grateful," she told The Gleaner recently.

Not always easy

Wright became a full-fledged farmer more than 20 years ago after she tied the knot with Lester, a cultivator. In reminiscing on her sojourn in the sector, she pointed to buying a car and educating her children from tilling the soil. She, however, stated that it was not always a bed of roses.

"Sometimes it is hard, especially when you have the disaster and to come back on you feet, it's real hard, but with God's help we always come back little by little."

Wright is particularly excited about her new venture: ginger production.

"It's the first time I'm growing ginger and it takes about eight months to produce. The thing about ginger is that once you are in ginger planting, you will never be out of it, and that is good," she explained, seemingly happy to have been selected as one of the participants.

In addition to Middlesex, beneficiaries are from Golden Grove, Pear Tree Grove, Seafield, Springfield, Top Mountain, and Ragsville.

Forty-four-year-old Marlene Jackson gave up her job as a nurse and returned to her roots in Ragsville, about one mile away from Guys Hill, 19 years ago.

"I always want to be my own boss, so I started farming with some broiler chickens. It was successful. I even get more than my pay as a nurse," Jackson recounted. "So I left the job, and from then on I have been doing farming. After the broilers, I went on to layers. Then I do goats, and then I started to plant cash crops," she told the Gleaner news team during a tour of her five-acre farm.

Overcoming recent setbacks

Like her colleagues, Jackson lost several crops in the recent flooding caused by Tropical Storm Nicole. But that was not her only setback, as she was involved in a motor vehicle accident on the Sligoville main road in 2008, and her right hand was severely damaged.

However, her resilience has won the hearts of many, especially those who have been guiding her on crop production over the years.

Jackson, not perturbed by her many setbacks, is grateful for the initiation and implementation of the project.

"I have one acre of turmeric now, but as a small farmer I want to expand and put in an acre of pumpkin, three acres of sweet potatoes inter-cropped with cassava. Diversify to Compete has paved the way for me and for many other farmers," she said, oozing with confidence.

On average, Jackson employs three persons to raise her chickens, while for field work she employs up to six workers at various intervals.

Grateful for programme

Two of the youngest farmers in the project are 30-year-old Peter Paul and 28-year-old Richard Palmer, also from Ragsville.

Paul, who got on-the-job training in masonry, was enticed into farming by his friends at age 15.

He cultivates crops such as banana, plantain, pumpkin, and cassava on about five acres of family-owned land. He sells his produce to a supplier in Wallenford in St Mary, as well as to local vendors.

The father of one child, who once harboured dreams of becoming an architect, has grabbed the chance to participate in Diversify to Compete with open arms.

"I got turmeric plants and fertiliser and it really helpful. I feel good about being a part of the programme because this means making more money," he chuckled.

Palmer's three-acre plot has bananas, plantains, yams, and tomatoes, among other crops, which he sells to vendors at the Linstead Market.

"It good so far, still, you know. For me like to get up early a morning time because me love to see how the things dem look when dem a grow - fresh and green. That's why me really like farming, still. Farming is a good thing."

Nowadays, in addition to watching his original crops take shape, Palmer also pays keen attention to his one-acre turmeric field as he diversifies to compete.

"Well, turmeric is a new production for me. Is it make curry, and I am very happy to be among the farmers who get plants and fertiliser free. Is really a good thing," the soft-spoken Palmer said, as he showed off one of his plants.