Women well represented at farmers’ wellness fair

The view that farming is a dying profession in Jamaica may be premature.

On Thursday, the number of farmers who turned up at the Harmony Beach Park, in Montego Bay, to participate in the Ministry of Agriculture's 'Thank-A-Farmer: Appreciation and Wellness Fair' was dominated by young farmers, most of them women.

Livestock farmer Lavern Cameron, who also dabbles in ground provisions, lauded the event, and was eager to relax, get pampered, do some networking and get exposed to some of the new technology featured. The Lucea, Hanover, native, who had previously worked in bars, hotel and call centres, said she has finally found her passion in farming.

"I enjoy being my own boss," said Cameron, who has been planting ground provisions for many years but got into livestock farming three years ago.

"I am doing layers and poultry, and I am looking to expand, especially now that we have technology to make the work lighter and increase production...I can tell you that I am one happy farmer," she said.

Autherine Smith, a St Catherine farmer, said she was never keen on doing a 9-to-5 job, so she became attracted to farming, especially livestock farming, because it offers both a sense of independence and an opportunity to care for her family from home.

"The best way to come out of poverty is farming. When I had my children and they were growing up, farming was the only thing that could carry me through," she said. "I enjoy farming because it puts me in a position to help to feed the nation."

Like many of the nation's farmers, Smith suffered losses when Hurricane Melissa impacted Jamaica last October. She basically took her losses in stride, vowing to come back stronger and better.

"It impacted me, but I didn't let it get me down, and I am confidently looking forward as my plan is to get deeper into the use of technology and whatever else I need to succeed," said Smith. "I am not from a farming family, but I tried it and fell in love with it, and it is now my passion."

Curtis Mills, from Clarendon, is also destroying the myth that farming is for old people, and having completed a course in greenhouse technology at the Ebony Park Academy, he is stepping forward with confidence, as he seeks to use technology to become the best farmer he can be.

"Farmers are the backbone of any country. Food security is a big deal. That is why I do both livestock and crops," said Mills. "I plant lettuce, sweet potatoes, tomatoes among a wide range of other quick crops."

"I took a hit from Hurricane Melissa as I lost a crop of hot pepper, about a quarter acre of hot pepper. But it could be worse, so I am moving on. I am now doing land preparation. I was pushed back by the recent rains because I have seedlings that should have been in the ground now, but I will be fine," added Mills.