MoA Interns visit to Claremont Farms by Shenequa Williams

The Ministry of Agriculture internship programme continues to offer its participants hands-on experiences across the island, with their latest stop being Claremont Farms, nestled in the lush countryside and operated by Mr. Grant Joyce.

During their visit, the interns explored the fascinating world of pineapples, learning about the fruit’s life cycle, from planting to harvesting, and discovering that it takes roughly 18 to 24 months for a pineapple to bear fruit. Mr. Joyce provided valuable insight into the best practices for cultivating healthy, productive pineapple plants.

To put learning into action, the interns were split into three rotating groups.

One team harvested sweet potatoes with the help of Mr. Joyce, who used a digging tracker to break the ground while the interns followed behind, carefully collecting the sweet potatoes into piles. Another group took on the task of washing and cleaning the harvested sweet potatoes, while the third participated in “topping and tailing” pineapple heads, creating a technique used to accelerate rooting by clipping the leaves and trimming the base.

The day wasn’t all work, however. As a token of appreciation, the interns were gifted generous bags of sweet potatoes and juicy mangos straight from the farm. The visit ended on a refreshing note with a relaxing swim at Ffryes Beach.

The visit to Claremont Farms not only deepened the interns’ understanding of root crop and fruit cultivation but also highlighted the hard work and innovation of local farmers like Mr. Joyce who continues to contribute to the nation’s food security.