Agriculture Summer Internship Programme – Day 8 Trip 2: Surprise Visit to Wally Browne Farm by Shenequa Williams & Carol-Faye Bynoe-George

Following the Bilateral Agricultural Technical Cooperation Project Comprehensive Building Ceremony, the Ministry of Agriculture interns were treated to a surprise visit to Wally Browne Farm on Bethesda Village Main Road.

The interns were welcomed by Mr. Gino Browne, owner of Wally Browne Farm and organizer of the popular “Farmers Only” event. Mr. Browne explained to the interns that he was the third generation owner, who inherited the farm from his late father. He further explained that his family’s farming history spans more than 300 years.

The interns learned about sustainable farming practices, the importance of soil health, crop planning, and the use of natural fertilizers. They also explored a variety of crops grown on the farm, including cassava, yam, onions, coconuts, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and both red and yellow watermelons.

Mr. Browne also highlighted the importance of planning for the future, sharing how the farm rebuilt its coconut plantation from three (3) surviving trees to over seven hundred (700) coconut trees after the “Lethal Yellowing” disease devastated the original crop and most of the palm trees in 2014.

During the visit, Mr. Browne encouraged the interns to do the research and see for themselves the importance of Agriculture, how these days many more persons are turning to the sector for reasons such as financial gains, food availability/ security, and impressed upon the them that the soil here is very conducive for production of onions and sweet potatoes. Therefore he suggested that these should be grown in larger quantities.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Browne encouraged his visitors to always remain professional, advised them to, “Develop a way where you can always speak your mind professionally.”

The surprise visit gave the interns valuable insight into sustainable agriculture while inspiring them to think about the future of farming and food security in Antigua and Barbuda.