FARM LIFE by Keairra Smith and Carol-Faye Bynoe-George

Week 5/Day 1 – The interns from Ministry of Agriculture, got the opportunity to visit the “Nature Farm” owned by Claude Weaver and managed by Mr. Tsekani Mussington.   They were exposed to a different terrain which consisted of slopes and valleys.  This farm showcases a contour type farming technique rather than the banking type farming methods used on flatlands or surfaces.

Mr. Mussington, a former Agricultural Science teacher spoke the interns about the importance of agriculture, the role of present producers, and the anticipated role of the youths in the sector.  Additionally, he explained several methods and demonstrated one that involved the use of garden scissors to cut tomatoes slips for cloning. Afterwards the interns cut the top of each tomato plant and used the parts/cuttings which was used for root germination.

Mr. Mussington also discussed water conservation and how it is practiced on Nature Farm.  There were several dams and a ravine which runs throughout most of the 209 acres.  This made irrigation easy to achieve and no need for water tanks to store water.  The dams were very deep and actually had depths of twenty feet.  The ravine is very wide, and it’s estimated that both a tamarind and mango trees he pointed out to the interns when laid lengthwise adjacent together were the breath of it, with pathways developed from the ravine to the dams where water is stored.  This meant a long-term supply of the much-needed natural resource “WATER“.

Land preparation is crucial related to farming. The interns had the opportunity to do some land preparation consisting of weeding, tillage and making banks for the next set of new crops.  The day activities included traversing down valleys and climbing up slopes which proved to be a challenge for some of the interns but nevertheless they unanimously decided that the natural beauty of the environment there was literally breathtaking they would not have missed the opportunity for the world.

Our future depends heavily on a resilient, striving and vibrant agricultural sector.