{"id":9598,"date":"2021-11-03T11:41:51","date_gmt":"2021-11-03T15:41:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/?p=9598"},"modified":"2021-11-03T11:41:51","modified_gmt":"2021-11-03T15:41:51","slug":"meet-the-farmer-siddiqui-sylvester","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/index.php\/2021\/11\/03\/meet-the-farmer-siddiqui-sylvester\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet The Farmer Siddiqui Sylvester"},"content":{"rendered":"

Siddiqui Sylvester started farming in 1990, in a small orchard with various fruit trees containing soursop, mangoes, cashew nut and others. However, after the passage of Hurricane Ivan in 2004, he stopped farming, only resuming in March of 2020.<\/p>\n

An advocate for maximizing the benefits of local herbs, Sylvester is a cultivator of many species, including Tarragon , Basil, Santa Maria, Turmeric, Stinging Nettle, Venn-Venn, Lemon Grass.\u201cWhen I lived in the United States, I saw people paying lots of money for things like Lemon Grass; I realized that more and more people were becoming health conscious . I thought about\u00a0 the teas that you can drink, that can help and decided to go that direction,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

In managing his farm, Siddiqui says inorganic fertilizers are not used; Chicken Manure and other natural types of fertilizers are preferred.\u00a0 This is combined with the use of wood chippings, that help to control the growth of weeds.<\/p>\n

The aim is to get the herbs into bags, that can be purchased by locals as well as tourists. \u201cWhen you come to Grenada, you don\u2019t just get a spice basket with some nutmegs or spices together,\u00a0 but you will be getting some of the Natural Herbs \u2013 Moringa, Basil, whatever it is. You will get lots of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Concentration at this time, Sylvester explained, is on the local market. He said, \u201cAt this time, the products are getting tested by the Bureau of Standards, we are hopeful that in the very near future we can launch the products and have them on the shelves and in the hands of vendors who sell to tourists.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u00a0 affirms his contribution to the food chain as being small. He wants to use his herbs to\u00a0 move from the garden directly to the consumer and cut the long chain between production, processing,and end user,to make agriculture successful for the persons who invest in it.<\/p>\n

His innovation towards processing of the herbs is using Solar Energy and Solar Driers. His aspirations are to be one of the main producers of \u201cmedicinal herbs, that are certified locally and on the international market,\u00a0 so Grenada can get the benefits from the agriculture\u00a0 we are engaged in.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to the wide variety of herbs , he cultivates several cash crops on his 5-acre plot, employing three persons fulltime. Sylvester believes that suitable pre-conditions need to be developed in the sector for young persons to become interested.<\/p>\n

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MANAGEMENT OF BURNING DISEASE IN TANNIA: Tip from Agronomist Troy Augustine<\/strong><\/p>\n

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