Gerard John is continuing a family tradition, making his contribution to food and nutrition security on the sister-isles of Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
Gerard, in his late twenties (20s), is following in the footsteps of his dad Joseph John, a well-known farmer in Carriacou, along with his grand-father (maternal) and other family members who have dabbled a bit in agriculture.
“This has helped me to grow that love and vibe for agriculture, something that actually pays off. I enjoy what I currently do, I work hard and smart,” he said.
Although farmers, like Gerard, on the sister-isle are challenged by water which lead to frequent drought like conditions, traditional crops such as corn and peas are cultivated.
He said, “Any type of crop that can grow in the Caribbean, I grow them here; but you see watermelons, those are my favourite . Once I have that in the garden, I can eat that every day; it keeps me full for long periods, so I can complete my tasks on the farm.”
Slatta, as he is known, has his own poultry farm, supplying eggs and meat to his market and also has a bit of livestock – sheep and goat.
While his farming includes a number of dynamic agronomic practices, he prefers crop rotation as, according to him, “this practice helps to add back nutrients to the soil and assists with controlling pests and diseases.”
Slatta, a well-known Soca Artiste, has won the Soca Monarch and Road March titles on the island, and also headlines small concerts in the US and UK. He explained how he balances all of this, along with his farming career.
“When you love something, you have to make time for it. I love farming and I love my music, so when I am on the island, I schedule my time to make sure I come to the farm early, complete my tasks and when I’m not on the island, I have people that help. I have two employees and my ten-year-old nephews, they know how to do everything on the farm, so they help out their grand-father.
The COVID-19 Pandemic was another challenge for the Mt, Royal youth; he elaborated on the impact it had on his farming. “It was good and bad because I normally do things on a large scale, so I had a lot of spoilage. This, however, helped me to understand the importance of better planning, which allows me to save more and make better business decisions.”
John envisions himself doing great things in agriculture . “In the next five (5) , ten (10) or fifteen (15) years , I want to acquire more land where I can plant and have my animals . One of the types of crops I would like to grow here on a large scale is grapes, because people grow grapes here but on a small scale for home use . While I have storage here for water, I also wish that us farmers in Carriacou – in the Mt. Pleasant, Dumfries area – get wells where we can store water for our farms.
His advice to upcoming farmers is to work hard, work smart and be persistent .
To purchase his crops, you can contact Gerard on instagram @slattapah,visit John’s Supermarket in Hillsborough or contact 473-443-8387.
Things to note about Gerard John:
- His favourite practice is Crop Rotation.
- He aspires to go into large-scale Grape Production.
- He followed in the footsteps of his father, a farmer and other family members becoming a farmer.
- He is a full-time Soca Artiste and Farmer. He is supported by two employees, two nephews and his dad, who assists with farm duties.
Planting Days – May
7th-8th: Poor planting. Fine for cultivating or spraying
9th-11th: First two days are good days for transplanting. First two days are also when planted root crops will yield well. Last day is favourable for planting beans, corn, cotton, tomatoes, peppers, and other aboveground crops.
12th– 13th: Any seed planted now will tend to rot.
14th-16th: Plant seedbeds and flower gardens. Most favourable for corn, cotton, okra, beans, peppers, eggplant, and other aboveground crops.
Fertilizer Application & Weed Control for Yams – Taken from the Yam Fact Sheet Prepared by Troy Augustine, Agronomy Division, Ministry of Agriculture ,Edited by Chief Agronomist et al
May 2012
FERTILIZER APPLICATION
- At planting: Incorporate Triple super phosphate (TSP) at the rate of 400 lbs per acre.
- Use a complete fertilizer (NPK) high in nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) at the rate of 550 lbs per acre, 6 to 8 weeks after planting. If vine growth appears to be slow, apply a nitrogen fertilizer (e.g. sulphate of ammonia) around 12 weeks after planting.
- Place the fertilizer in a circle of about 6 inches radius around the plant.
- Where available, application of compost can increase yield.
WEED CONTROL
- Weeds are host to pest and disease and compete with yams for nutrients.
Methods of control
- Manual – cutlassing and hand weeding
- Chemical – use of Pre-emergent herbicide (e.g. Lasso and Herbadox)
- Cultural – Mulching
COMPOSTING:
What to compost:
Dry Leaves
Wood Chips
Shredded paper
Sawdust and Wood Shavings
Kitchen and Toilet roll tubes
Straw and Hay
Fruit and Vegetable Scraps
Ground Coffee and Filter Paper
Tea Bags
Feathers
Egg Shells
Grass and Plant Clippings
What not to compost:
Meat
Plastic
Chemicals like bleach or dishwashing liquids
Oils.
Fruits and Vegetables Available in May
- Cabbage
- Pumpkin
- French Cashew
- Plums ( Red)
- Cashew Nut
- Pineapple
