Farming ‘gives me strength’

Amid the rush of activities at Tuesday’s wellness fair, hosted at Hope Gardens in St Andrew, 81-year-old Vernice Gray was proof that strength and success have no age limit in Jamaican agriculture.

A farmer for just four years, Gray is living proof that age is no barrier to new beginnings.

“I’m from Moore Town, and it is a farming area,” she said.

“But I live at Mansion Hill… where my family is all farmers,” she added, when asked why she made the bold move of starting her own farm at 77 years old.

Gray says that farming is a long-standing family tradition, but she was just a little late on her journey.

While many would hesitate to take on the rigours of agriculture late in life, Gray, a woman of few words, declared, “It gives me strength.”

When asked where her determination comes from, she immediately replied, “God”.

But farming has not come without challenges, as Gray was working non-stop, going from her farm directly to the market to sell other goods, as she was also a higgler in prior years. Now, she boldly states that she has no issues with farming, as opposed to how she felt in previous years.

Events such as the wellness fair aim to provide support to farmers like Gray, who often work alone to maintain their farm. While Gray was unsure how the event might help her personally, she said, “I just feel good because I leave the farm part-time.”

Gray felt no regrets after accompanying the Portland-based Manchioneal Farming Group, of which she is a member.

God’s willing, Gray said, without hesitation, that she would definitely do farming for another four years.

But, as her skills in farming increase with her age, Gray also voiced concern about the younger generation, saying that many are uninterested in the profession.

“Young people don’t want to farm,” she said sadly, while stressing that there is hope for those who do find purpose in agriculture.

In the meantime, Orane Keldo is a 30-year-old farmer and a representative of the younger generation.

Also growing up in a family of farmers, Keldo started growing his first crops at age 13, but his earliest memory of going to the farm with his parents goes back to when he was two years old.

TRELAWNY IS THE REAL BREADBASKET

A farmer in Trelawny, Keldo exuded pride as he spoke about his achievements over his 17 years of experience, describing Trelawny as the real breadbasket due to its agricultural diversity.

But, over the years, after working overseas as well, he noticed that his farm only flourished when he was the one nurturing it.

“Most of the time, you don’t have anybody to help. I remember last year, I cut piece of land and said I would start a new ‘ground’. When you check, nobody to work, so I couldn’t do it.”

Nova Scotia, in Canada, was one of the places where he worked on a farming programme. With crops in the ground at home, he had to call on his father to help him care for the plants.

With weekly pesticide spraying and issues with irrigation, the work was hectic for one man to manage alone. His father also had a farm of his own and, unfortunately, suffered from plant loss while taking care of Keldo’s farm as well as his sister’s.

In the end, after seeing a greater profit from being there in person, he decided to stay home, getting help from his mother, also a farmer. He declared that his farm flourished the most during the COVID pandemic when he lost his job at the Royalton Hotel. With more time to focus on his farm, he also gained support from his girlfriend, who also has a green thumb.

With farming land located in the hills of Trelawny, specifically the Joe Hut area, irrigation c becomes a bigger challenge, as water needs to be pumped uphill.

Unfortunately, Keldo doesn’t own a pump of his own, but thanks to his neighbour, who also farms, they share a pump that successfully brings water to the crop areas.

This, Keldo says, is something that he hopes the government can assist with in the future.

NO ROAD ACCESS

He also explained that plow trucks can’t access the rough terrain, and years of waking up at five in the morning to manually till the land with his cutlass and fork have taken a serious toll on his shoulder muscles.

Despite the hardships, Keldo says, “Still, when you sow and reap, you can smile when you see the crops.”

Keldo encourages young folk to take advantage of the resources and help provided to them, so that they too can start their farm smoothly.

Meanwhile, Floyd Green, minister of agriculture, fisheries and mining, praised the wellness initiative, noting its importance in prioritising the health of those who often neglect their own well-being in service of national food production.

“I think it’s a great initiative,” Green told The Gleaner. “It’s an excellent way to say thanks to our farmers. You know, they work so hard, and sometimes to the detriment of their health.”

He continued, “We, the Ministry of Agriculture along with the JAS (Jamaica Agricultural Society), have a responsibility to take the time to stop to say ‘Thank you’, and to say, ‘Relax a little, come get your necessary checks, don’t take health for granted; because if you are not healthy, you can’t do what you love’.”

The fair was part of a broader strategy led by the ministry to prioritise farmer well-being, which includes access to health insurance.

“That’s why we’re pushing initiatives like health insurance for farmers and introduced the first life and health insurance through our private-sector partners, Sagicor and Guardian,” Green said. “We’re using these initiatives to prioritise farmers’ well-being.”

But Green didn’t stop at healthcare. With climate change increasingly impacting farming communities, the minister outlined a set of water-retention strategies to help farmers build resilience during droughts and unpredictable weather.

“Some places where we used to get good rain, now we can’t see (any),” he explained. “So one of the problems that we have is that we want to put in more retention ponds, so that when the rain comes, you can capture the water and use it in the time of drought.”

He urged farmers to organise and work with the ministry to identify suitable locations. “We will do the excavation. We will do the panel liners free, for groups. If you are an individual farmer, we still can help you, but you have to help yourself.”

The ministry will also continue distributing water tanks and irrigation kits to encourage smarter water use, especially during dry spells.

Turning to the matter of praedial larceny (farm theft), Green put emphasis on the new penalties and security reforms. Under the revised laws, the maximum fine for agricultural theft has increased from J$250,000 to J$3 million, and the maximum prison term has been extended from six months to up to seven years in the most serious cases.

NO PLACE FOR CROP THEFT

Additionally, a modernised receipt book system is also in the works to better trace agricultural produce and get rid of markets for stolen goods.

“We have to cut off the market for stolen products,” Green declared. “If I thief somebody’s things, they shouldn’t have anywhere to go with it.”

In another effort to tighten enforcement, the ministry is recruiting agricultural wardens, who are specialised police personnel trained to combat agricultural crime directly in high-risk areas.

Green called for farmers to actively report incidents of theft.

“I know it used to be if a man steals something, you can’t bother to report it. Because if we don’t have the data, then we might be putting the police in an area where they don’t need them. So you have to tell us.”

He emphasised that agricultural crimes will now be taken as seriously as other offences, saying that an agricultural division is in the works within the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

“They will have their own vehicles. They will have their own reporting structure. Your reports will be dealt with just as serious as gun crimes.”

To celebrate April as Farmers’ Month, the JAS hosted the event to honour farmers from across all 14 parishes. The day was filled with giveaways, wellness services, food, and support from both government and private organisations.

mickalia.kington@gleanerjm.com