Meet The Farmer – Kenroy Thomas

57-year-oldKenroy Thomas has  been farming full-time since 1984; a career which he believes  provides  a reliable source of income. “You work with your timing; it’s really a safe means of employment because people must eat,” he explained. Thomas left the field of construction to pursue farming.

He plants a variety of crops including corn, bodibeans, sweet peppers, eggplants, and  cucumbers. With no access to transportation, he said, these crops are easier to  sell.

Out of all his crops, he favours the eggplant because they have a longer shelf life. “With the eggplants, you can plant today and six months down the road you still have the trees, even though they do not sell, they can stay on the tree for a little while.” His harvest from his soursop plot is also exported to the United States.

His major markets are the supermarkets within the parish and the Marketing and National Importing Board. Practices like mulching, according to this farmer, are paying off, as they are ecofriendly and conserve water, especially in the dry season.

He believes that his successes to date, as a farmer, have been as a result of support from extension officers, which has provided him with important advice and support.

Challenges identified by the farmer include a glut of produce on the market, which often means that produce will be on hand for longer than normal.

Thomas’ plans for the next 5-10 years are to scale down his involvement in farming and pass on the knowledge to his children.

Things to note about Thomas:

• He has an acre of soursop, which is exported to the United States.
• He farms on one acre and 6 poles of land in St. Andrew.
• He started farming in 1984.
• Farming is his livelihood.

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2021 HURRICANE/ STORM WATCH RESPONSE FOR IRRIGATION FARMERS

When a storm watch or Hurricane warning is issued, all farmers who have irrigation systems should take the following actions before the storm arrives:

1. Remove all irrigation lines that are not buried, including drip lines and sprinklers and store in a safe place where water or wind cannot carry or blow it away.
2. Remove suction hose from river and store in a safe place.
3. Secure pump units away from riverbanks, and place in a secure location where it cannot be flooded or carried away from the pump house.
4. Remove all fuels, oils, chemicals, and other supplies stored in pump house and secure in a safe place.
5. If a dam was built in the watercourse using sandbags, stones, or other material, remove them so that the water in the river can flow freely and avoid flooding.
6. Clean all drains, remove debris from water course and protect all equipment that can be a threat to equipment, tools, and plants.

During the passage of the storm or hurricane, farmers should not attempt to go and “rescue” their equipment. Please protect your family, animals, and your life by taking appropriate action.

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Tips for Cash Control –  Information provided by the Grenada Development Bank

• Record all transactions as soon as possible.
• Record money you might take from the business for personal use.
• Write in the cash book, transactions that are paid for in cash.
• Record buying and selling on credit separately.
• You can calculate the balance whenever it is most convenient for you.
• Always tally; however, before you close a page in your Cash Book.
• The balance should always be written at the start of a new page

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BANANA PEEL CHUTNEY

Ingredients

• 1 whole banana plus 4 peels
• 1½ tsp mustard
• 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
• ½- 1 tsp hot pepper sauce
• 4 cloves of garlic
• ½ cup chopped, onion
• 1 Tbsp turmeric
• 1 tsp curry powder
• ½ tsp Salt

METHOD

• Boil the peels for 15 minutes. Drain and chop into small pieces.
• Add the garlic, and onion, and sauté until golden brown. Then, add the pepper and banana peels and cook for three more minutes.
• Add turmeric, curry powder, banana meat, and salt and then cook for about 5 minutes.
• Put the mixture into a blender and blend until mostly combined. The consistency should be slightly lumpy.

Please note that this recipe makes 1 cup

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2021 FARM LABOUR SUPPORT PROGRAMME

The Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Forestry is inviting applications from registered farmers for the 2021 Farm Labour Programme. The programme has the following components:

• Tree Crop Rehabilitation & Maintenance
• Tree Crop Establishment
• Root & Staple Crop Establishment
• Support to Livestock Sector

The following are the terms and conditions of the programme:

1. Beneficiaries MUST be registered farmers, in good standing.
2. The support previously provided by the programme will NOT be repeated if it has not been maintained.
3. The time allotted to each beneficiary will be determined after assessment by the Extension Division and MUST be adhered to.
4. Plants MUST be purchased in advance for the establishment of new plots.

To maintain the COVID-19 protocols, interested farmers are asked to complete an online application form; farmers without internet access are required to collect forms and submit completed applications to their District Extension Offices. All applications should be received no later than Friday, June 18, 2021.

Click here to complete the online application:https://tinyurl.com/5f5w5tzz

Click here to download the application form: https://bit.ly/3x7Hzxb

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Planting Days – June

13^th – 17^th

Poor period for planting. Kill plant pests, clear fencerows, or clear land.

18^th – 19^th

Sow grains and forage crops. Plant flowers. Favourable for planting peas, beans, tomatoes, and other aboveground crops.

20^th – 21^st

Plant seedbeds. Extra good for planting lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, and other leafy vegetables. All aboveground crops planted now will do well.