Women in Farming

Photography : Cedric Henry | Location: Christel House Jamaica

We are Budding Farmers, and we love to watch things grow!

BUDDING FARMERS - Vol. 1 #2 | March - April 2022

PUBLISHER

Got Creative Media

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Grace Henry

CREATIVE DIRECTOR | LAYOUT ARTIST

Cedric Henry

EDITORS

Donnette Hines | Grace Henry

WRITERS

Donnette Hines | Jade Stone | Annmarie H. | Joedi J. | Grace Henry

CONTRIBUTOR

Rohan McLeod

Rhudie-Jaye Edwards-Ffrench

PHOTOGRAPHER

Cedric Henry @cedhenryphotography (Kingston, Jamaica)

COVER CREDIT

Model: Jaqueline Douglas

Photographer: Cedric Henry

CONTACT

Telephone: (876) 667.3492

buddingfarmersjamaica@gmail.com

BUDDING FARMERS Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. All content appearing in this magazine may not be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means electronically or mechanically, including photocopying, distributing, recording or by any information storage retrieval system without written permission from the publisher.

SALES / BUSINESS

Contact:

Budding Farmers Ja, 15 Grovedale Drive, Kingston 10. Telephone: (876) 667.3492

email: buddingfarmersjamaica@gmail.com

email: gotcreativemedia@gmail.com

WHAT IS PRAEDIAL LARCENY?

Praedial larceny is defined in Section 13 of the Larceny Act as a felony; i.e. the act of or the intent to steal, cut, break root up or otherwise destroy or damage, the whole or any part of any tree, sapling, shrub, underwood, plant, root, fruit or vegetable production growing in any place whatsoever.

Notwithstanding this definition, the term is widely used taking into account farm theft which includes all agriculture produce to include animals and farm tools and equipment. For the purpose of investigation and crime reporting, praedial larceny is to be treated like any other forms of larceny.

Food was once stolen for sustenance; but today it is being carried out on a pecuniary scale, and in some instances entails high levels of violence. Larcenists now operate in groups, with high powered weapons and no regard for human life.

Editor’s Note

“Nobody wants to plant di corn, everybody want to raid the barn…” are well known words from reggae artiste Anthony B and sets the tone for this issue of the Budding Farmers Grow-Zine.

Praedial Larceny affects all farmers. It affects families and it affects the communities.

Ok, let’s break it down. Praedial larceny is just a fancy word for stealing. It stems from the Latin words praedium, which is basically the same thing as calling your property. Larceny is the act of theft.

In the Budding Farmers Grow-zine- Issue 1 Vol. 1, the Minister of Agriculture - Pearnel Charles Jr. said that Praedial Larceny would be one of the key areas of focus for his administration while acknowledging that “every family who has an interest in the sector whether a backyard farmer or a large scale farmer”, are affected and thieves among us continue to plague the sector, removing billions of dollars of investment from the sector.

We at Budding Farmers are therefore compelled to explore the surrounding issues related to Praedial Larceny such as; are the stakeholders equipped to respond to this issue and how effective have our responses been as a country and community? Have we been connecting the impact of Praedial Larceny on Food Security in Jamaica?

In doing so, we will explore Praedial Larceny, various solutions and hear from farmers about the impact it had on their livelihood. We will also feature some strong women in Agriculture along with our regular features on what to plant when, enticing recipes, planning your garden and ofcourse, take a peep inside the Budding Farmers Grow Club.

Lastly, don’t forget to like our pages on Instagram @buddinggrowzine @buddingfarmersja

Grace Henry, Chief Editor

G.AHenry

I like gardening. It’s a place where I find myself when I need to lose myself.

- Alice Sebold

Agri-TacklingCrimes

Re-Imagining a Multi-Pronged Approach

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MOAF) upwards of $5 billion dollars is lost to Praedial Larceny each year. Set against the backdrop of the high levels of crimes in Jamaica, it is not surprising that the agriculture sector would also feel the negative impact, with authorities even establishing a direct link between praedial larceny and the regional guns for meat trade.

There have been multiple reports of initiatives aimed at stemming this loss, such as the implementation of a special unit focused on praedial larceny within the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the review and strengthening of the legislative agenda recently announced by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, and the raising of awareness of incidents and impact of praedial larceny reported in the media.

Head of the JCF’s Praedial Larceny Prevention Coordination Unit, Superintendent Oral Pascoe, notes that the unit currently deals with the issue based on its 4-pronged approach -traceability, enforcement and compliance, legislative framework and institutional arrangement. Despite the efforts, the Unit has admitted that actual incidents of praedial larceny could be upwards of 3 times more. This pervasive issue leaves one to contemplate “what is the missing link?”

Story by: Donnette Hines | Photography: Cedric Henry | Location: Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries

By all accounts, it is clear that more needs to be done to prevent the instances of theft. (It should not be assumed that this publication is advocating for ‘jungle justice’.)

Instead, we would rather see a concerted effort towards a civilised joined up approach on a micro or community level in our response to the criminal network that scourge our farmers. We would like to challenge each stakeholder to ask themselves, how can I do more as part of my response to the criminals impacting the livelihood of so many Jamaicans?

Supt. Oral Pascoe

Head of the JCF’s Praedial Larceny Prevention Coordination Unit

Traceability is a critical pillar in the 4-pronged strategy announced by the JCF. It is simply aimed at establishing ownership and the movement of agricultural produce along the value chain; as establishing ownership is at the root of determining if a theft occurred.

The primary tool in this regard is the database of farmers housed at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA). However, the JCF has reported that the close to 250,000 farmers registered with RADA is but a small percentage of farmers operating in Jamaica. This publication contends that the onus is on farmers who have made the various investments in their livelihood to do all that is in their power to protect such investment. The JCF has access to the database of farmers registered with RADA. Therefore, if an individual is found with agricultural produce without being listed on this database, it immediately raises a flag. Farmers must then ask themselves why they would choose not to be included in this database. If we are truly serious about coordinating our efforts in countering the impact of the criminals among us, let us use this publication as a reminder to start the application process with RADA today.

On the flip side, is RADA then asking themselves, how can I increase farmer registration per office? Is the management of RADA tracking farmer registration as a KPI among its leadership ranks? Is there an internal management mechanism to track applications vs registration per period? Is there a mechanism to review the length of time between applications, inspections and subsequent registration of farmers? Is this tracking process being digitised so that farmers can also know how their application is being addressed?

While not assuming that this issue is widespread, I have identified one farmer who would have applied at their local RADA office at the beginning of the pandemic. As at the time of writing, no further follow up has been done by RADA with the farmer.

If this situation is widespread, then the time has come for us to align the financial loss within the sector, with the management outcome of such a critical agency in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

RADA and by extension the MOAF, must examine ways to increase internal transparency on this process.

Secondly, the JCF has rightfully advocated for the formation of community and beach watch programs. Superintendent Pascoe has also admitted that the sustained participation of farmers within these initiatives waned over time. We would posit that without ownership and reporting, then initiatives such as these will fail. I would therefore like to suggest that the JCF should implement a direct contact with each community group that is formed, engage constantly with each group and include as part of its management, a reporting mechanism providing an opportunity for periodic status update reports from these groups. Again, if we are serious about stemming the scourge of thieves then we must be equally relentless in uniting against their unscrupulous activities.

Thirdly, how are we as agricultural stakeholders leveraging technology to help tackle Praedial Larceny? Many technological advancements have been made since the MOAF 2014 Ministry Paper 56 addressing Praedial Larceny.

• The availability of broadband technology is more widespread today than it was in times past.

• More farmers have access to a smartphone

What does this mean on a practical level.

Actual incidents of praedial larceny could be upwards of 3 times more...

• The government of Jamaica has invited private individuals to tap into its national surveillance network - Jamaica Eye.

• The cost of surveillance systems are being reduced significantly as the technology has become more pervasive.

Despite the availability of these +-----individual elements, many argue, that it is too expensive to implement, thus preventing the widescale implementation of a digital agricultural surveillance network. In fact, PreeLabs CEO, Yekini Wallen-Bryan acknowledges that for many smaller farmers the cost of implementing the technology needed to give greater oversight often inhibits the take up of the technology. However, “if a farming community can come together to tackle praedial larceny by contributing and installing security cameras to benefit the entire community, community members can share expenses and benefits of getting the system in place.” He further contends that “farmers need to start thinking more creatively especially since the cost is the main barrier to getting these systems

...farmers need to start thinking more creatively especially since the cost is the main barrier to getting these systems in place.

It is for this reason that I am using this opportunity to implore private sector interests in the Agricultural Sector to support duly registered farmers by investing in the build out of these farming surveillance networks. We can visualise for instance an agro-processing company sponsoring the surveillance system in a community plagued by praedial larceny.

In essence, there are some low hanging fruits that can be implemented by stakeholders while we await the announced strengthening of the legislative framework.

• Let’s get more farmers registered with RADA.

• Let’s support and entrench the community/ beach watch groups within the JCF’S crime monitoring framework.

• Let’s give these groups the capability to connect to the national surveillance network.

Technically there are no hindrances to prioritising the registration of farmers, no barriers preventing the agricultural community from forming small groups of influence and leveraging the spirit of unity to implement a digital surveillance system that is connected to the country’s surveillance system.

In reality, we simply need the will, commitment and foresight to finally move the needle forward in prioritising the reduction and prevention of Praedial Larceny in Jamaica.

Jaqueline Douglas Farmer

from Danvers Pen in St. Thomas where she does cattle farming. Along with her cows on over 30 acres of land, Jacqueline also rears pigs, goats and chickens. Farming is her Life.

in Women Farming

For years, the agricultural industry has been a man’s game—but not anymore. The number of women in agriculture is on the rise, and it’s about time. Women have always been a part of the backbone of this country, but some have been kept out of the spotlight for too long. They are hard workers, problemsolvers, and are resilient enough to keep going when things get tough.

Some of our women are our food heroes, and they always have been. Here we feature some female farmers from Eastern St. Thomas, Jamaica)

Getting up at dawn

is part of a farmer’s life. On a trek in the deep community of Danvers Pen in St. Thomas, we headed out on the journey on a cool, misty morning to visit Jacqueline and family on their farm, whose day starts at 4am daily. To Jacqueline, “farming is her life”. It doesn’t matter what the weather was like, she knew that all her tasks must be done and most importantly, all her milk must be delivered by 8am.

Story: Grace Henry | Photography: Cedric Henry | Location: Danvers Pen and Serge Island Farms, St. Thomas

The daily routine never varied much, but she starts her day with an agenda to “fix and pull” to manage; as she is is head cook and bottle washer! President for the Danvers Pen Farmers Group, PTA President for the Prospect Primary School in Danvers Pen and Assistant Secretary for the Small Farmers Dairy Group; Jacqueline is very diligent in managing her time.

Her entry into farming started when she met her husband. He was doing cattle farming alongside his father, and soon went in full time on his own by crediting 2 cows from another farmer, at no time looking back. It’s been 30 years since! Hoping to give their two sons a head start, they gave them each two cattles to learn, grow and become part of the team.

When asked about Predial Larceny, Jacqueline, looked at her cows and a sad look washed her face. Nothing comes without the setbacks. In 2009, they lost 2 heifers, which was a great setback, but with a determination to go on she also shared her word of encouragement.

“We have to continue, we cant give up. If it is your business our your life, you have to fight, you cant give up. You cant allow thieves to stop you from performing. With God we can make it”. One of the heifers was a gift from her husband, which she was so attached to.

Today, she boasts about the assistance she receives from (Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) in improving the quality of her herd, marketing and operations.

MarCia McPherson

Serge Island Farms, St. Thomas.

Farm Supervisor

Still masked , we were greeted with smiling eyes and a big “Welcome to Farm 7”. Marcia’s role on the farm is crucial to the daily operations at Serge Island Farms, raising calves from three days old to pregnancy then transferring them to the dairy farms.

To upcoming farmers, she implored farmers (females in the sector) to be respectful, don’t waste time, and just dedicate yourself.

A typical day for Marcia starts at 7am and ends at 4pm.

Budding Farmers

Sashana has a reserved demeanor, but gets very assertive once she starts to work or even talk about work. She is excited to be part of a great team and supervises milkers and daymans on the farm. She was introduced to farming from a tender age, helping her grandmother with farming at home.

Her main role at the time was to reap gungo peas and take care of the chickens and pigs. With no doubt, and fearless, she knew that farming was her calling. She did agriculture at Old Harbour High School, then accelerated to the College of Agriculture Science and Education (CASE) where she earned her BSc. in General Agriculture and Animal Science.

Sashana Tulluch

Serge Island Farms, St. Thomas.

Farm Supervisor

Her greatest joy is being abe to enjoy her job (she loves being around animals) She loves that she is able to help the animals.

Farming is the number 1 choice, and should be introduced to children from a young age, because the younger generation is not taking up farming. Farming in her community is filled with farmers- but not many young farmers, because they think it is hard.

She had one advice to young people, “don’t look at farming as hard, it just requires dedication; you will reap what you sow”.

We asked her about her thoughts on Praedial Larceny. “I don’t think persons can afford to put in the security needed to combat it because they don’t have the money to purchase cameras and the technology needed to stop it”.

Treson Henry

Serge Island Farms, St. Thomas.

Team Leader/ Quality Officer

Treson Henry, a proud member of the Serge Island family , was down to business when we visited the farm she manages in St. Thomas. Yes, she calls them her family. She is responsible for the quality control and the farm operations. Here is a glimpse in our chat with Treson.

What is your most hectic day on the farm?

“Pasture management and pasture rotation. Once it rains, its our que to start fertilizing. Getting the team and trucks ready to get to work.”

How did you get into farming?

“I was born in farming, my family was a supplier of milk in St. Catherine. Although employed, I am also a small farmer alongside my dad at home raising livestock -cows, pigs and goats, which is where my interest came from. Doing this from a child, allowed me to see the value of it”.

What are the challenges you find in Agriculture?

“In agriculture, today and tomorrow are different. There are always new challenges every step of the way. The biggest challenge while working is when the feed wagon is down. It affects the milk output of the animals so there is always a rush to get it up and running so I don’t lose any milk. Having a mindset to tackle challenges as they come gets me through each day”.

Are there gender biases in Agriculture?

“Yes there are gender biases in agriculture, but I have not experienced it at Serge Island Farms since I started working here. I have worked at all levels since starting at Serge Island Farms in 2015 as a farm supervisor. Being at Seprod, allows me to experience various job roles, at times functioning as operations manager/ general manager.

What do you have to say to Budding Farmers that may look at farming as an option?

“The way to go is Agriculture. With what is happening in the world now we have to lean towards agriculture. The time is now for us to jump on the bandwagon and get it up and running.“.

As a small farmer, are you affected by Praedial Larceny, and what advice do you have to combat it?

“Last year, we lost a few animals even though we are not usually affected by thieves. Losing three animals caused the farm to be down, in terms of the breeding stock. Farmers, try to keep animals close to your premises to give a listening ear out at night and when they are grazing.

Capital may be a setback for tackling this problem, however, farmers need to be their own security”.

If you got to speak with the Minister of agriculture, what would you say?

“My advice would be for him to improve on the extension services that the RADA officers offer. I am seeing where it is very limited. The number of RADA officers to the small farmers are few and far apart. The agriculture sector needs more from extension officers, we need to see them more in the field departing knowledge”.

A More

Natural Approach to Life:

11 Reasons to Harness Nature Your Way

Story by: Rhudie-Jaye Edwards-Ffrench

WHealth Benefits

• Better for the body and offers greater health benefits.

ith society becoming more complex amidst the hustle and bustle of increasingly hectic lifestyles there has never been a better time to embrace a more natural lifestyle! Here are 12 reasons to harness nature your way.

• Does not carry side effects if properly used.

• Can extend one’s lifespan, therefore, improving the quality of life.

• Has the capacity to reverse lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, personal care issues.

• Non-toxic and free from harmful chemicals

Household Use

• Children have the freedom to be involved in household chores without the detrimental effects of being exposed to chemicals.

• Has hypoallergenic properties and will not cause adverse effects.

• Generally, food is safe and nontoxic Has multiple uses for any single product.

Home & Garden

• Ability to grow organic food through less exposure to toxic chemicals .

• An excellent option for compost mixes – best source for organic fertilizer resulting in an increased yield from produce and growing fuller flowers.

• Exploration of natural pest control alternatives that do not affect beneficial insects, birds, or small animals, thus maintaining an ecological balance compared to using commercially produced pesticides.

For ease of transition, take small steps into more natural alternatives. After all, we all want to have our home gardens and have a wider array of natural products for a higher quality of life. But, in being aware that this lifestyle doesn’t happen overnight, it is recommended to make small changes to figure out what works for you and your family.

Budding

From a small seed, great things can grow.

Growing up, many of us have experienced the joy of planting a seed and observing it grow into a plant. This experience is almost always synonymous with the joy of a tasty vegetable or fruit which we can then use for cooking. However, the importance of plant growth goes beyond the enjoyment of eating the produce.

The Budding Farmers Grow Club has partnered with Christel House Jamaica to provide children with hands-on experience in the garden which will encourage them to also start their gardens at home to feed their families. The Budding Farmers Grow Club will also instill positive life skills such as teamwork and perseverance among the children.

Through this partnership, children at Christel House Jamaica started their garden with tomatoes, watermelons, pumpkin and callaloo. Also, some of their crops died due to dcrought and pests, it was all a learning experience. They are determined to restart and have a well maintained garden where they are encouraged to grow their own food even at home. Once the crops are ready, children will take part in harvesting the produce and cooking it into a healthy meal that they can enjoy with their school family.

In the final term of the Budding Farmers Grow Club, over 250 students combined were engaged online and in person. We will continue to sing: “We are Budding Farmers and we love to watch things GROW!”

Ingredients

2 Red Snapper; Scaled & Gutted

8 Small Bammy

1 Pack Vegetable Mix (Optional)

2oz Fish Seasoning

3oz Coconut milk

1 cup water

2tbsp Butter

1 sprig thyme

1 large onion

1 scotch bonnet pepper

3oz Escallion

It's

Snapper

Snapper

time!

Method

Clean and wash fish. In a medium to large pan, add salt, black pepper and fish seasoning to both sides and cavity of the fish.

Place the fish in a pot and add the coconut milk and water and allow mixture to come to a boil for 10 mins.

Add the bammy, butter, thyme, onion, scotch bonnet pepper and escallion to the pot and let simmer for 7 mins on low heat. After the 7 mins, add the vegetable mix and allow to simmer for 3 more minutes. Serve Hot.

Our Chef’s Suggestion: Add Okra.

Breadfruit Puddn'

Ingredients

• 2 cup(s) brown sugar

• 2 cup(s) coconut milk

• 1 teaspoon(s) mace

• 1 teaspoon(s) nutmeg

• 1 teaspoon(s) cinnamon powder

• 2 teaspoon(s) vanilla

• 1 teaspoon(s) salt

• 2 cup(s) wine

• 1 large egg

• 1/2 cup(s) margarine, melted

• 6 cup(s) breadfruit, cooked and crushed or breadfruit flour

• 1 cup(s) all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup(s) raisins, soaked

• 3 whole cherries (optional)

• 1 cup(s) ripe guava, diced

• 3 cup(s) water

• 1 cup(s) dark sugar

• 1 tablespoon(s) lime juice or ginger

• 2 tablespoon(s) white rum

Method

Mix together the sugar, coconut milk, spices, salt, wine, egg and the melted margarine; whisk to dissolve sugar granules. Combine the crushed boiled breadfruit, flour and the raisins.

Add the liquid mixture to the breadfruit mixture and mix well. Scrape the mixture into a greased 10 inch baking tin and bake in a preheated oven 180°C (350°F) for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Cool and serve decorated with cherries and Guava Sauce.

Guava Sauce

Put guava and water to boil for about twenty minutes. Strain and rub the pulp through a sieve. Combine the pulp and juice and return to a boil. Add sugar and lime juice or ginger and simmer until the mixture becomes syrupy. Allow to cool and mix in the white rum.

From our Farm to your Table

Try our Bammy in Resealable Bags!

Our bammy is made from cassava grown by small farmers across the island as well as our own Rainforest Farms. It is processed at our state-of-the-art cassava processing facility and transformed into our iconic bammy, offering you a taste of Jamaica in every bite.

WHO SAYS MONEY DON’T GROW ON TREES.

Gluten-free products are beginning to get their time in the consumer spotlight. Gluten is a naturally occurring product found in wheat based items such as flour or bread. The global gluten-free products market size is expected to reach USD 13.7 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The rising prevalence of lifestylerelated diseases in addition to increased reports of gluten sensitivities, has led to the increased gluten-free product demand. How can we prepare to cater to this largely untapped demand?

When one juxtaposes this demand with the versatility of the Breadfruit tree it stands to reason that just maybe we should be exploring this plant as one such avenue. Breadfruit can be used to create chips, flour, puddings, cakes, punches… you name it. So why not give it a try?

HERE ARE THE 7-STEPS TO GET STARTED WITH YOUR BREADFRUIT ORCHARD:

Story: By Rohan McLeod - Owner of Nature Touch Farms, and experienced farmer since 2004.

1. Clean up your land,

2. Map the layout of your planting holes.

3. Dig the holes at the correct depth and width.

4. Apply organic animal manure or compost. If you choose to use synthetic fertilizers. Please follow the manufacturer’s instructions. However, breadfruit production can be done without the use of chemicals and still produce high yields.

5. Plant your trees.

6. Apply water to your newly planted breadfruit trees to settle them in until you see new growth. You can plant your breadfruit seedlings during the rainy season in your area.

7. Have fun taking care of your breadfruit trees. Remember to bud and prune them to keep them at a height of between 12 ft to 15 ft. When is the best time to have planted a tree? Three years ago. However, it is not too late. Plant some trees today. Better yet... ESTABLISH FRUIT ORCHARDS. You will be glad you did.

Breadfruit, (Artocarpus altilis), tree of the mulberry family (Moraceae) and its large fruits that are a staple food of the South Pacific and other tropical areas. Breadfruit contains considerable amounts of starch and is seldom eaten raw. It may be roasted, baked, boiled, fried, or dried and ground into flour and is now widely touted as a Super Food.

Just 100 g of breadfruit (approximately ½ cup) provides 25% of the RDA for fiber, and 5–10% of the RDA for protein, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, thiamine (B1), and niacin (B3). Breadfruit also provides some carotenoids, such as β-carotene and lutein, which are not present in white rice or white potato.

The growing and production of breadfruit in Jamaica has taken on a new dimension and importance since the advent of Covid-19 as persons worldwide have become more health conscious and finding out the many benefits of consuming this super food.

In Jamaica, The TREES THAT FEED FOUNDATION has been doing tremendous work in distribution to Farmers breadfruit trees and other fruit trees FREE OF COST to establish economically viable Agro Forest Tree Orchards. This drive will for sure enhance the long-term income for Farmers in Jamaica and in return set up a pension crop for themselves and generations to come.

WHAT DOES BREADFRUIT TASTE LIKE?

Although the strongest breadfruit taste correlation is to freshly-baked bread when cooked, the starch-rich breadfruit can also taste similar to potatoes, though riper varieties taste sweeter because the starch converts to sugar.

WHERE IS BREADFRUIT FOUND?

The fruit is grown in South Florida in the United States or imported from the West Indies, particularly Jamaica, from June through October, sometimes year around, and is found in local specialty markets. The breadfruit tree attains a height of about 85 feet (26 m.) and has large, thick, deeply notched leaves. However, with pruning and good farm practices. Breadfruit trees are kept at a height of between 12 feet to 15 feet.

WHY SHOULD WE EAT BREADFRUIT?

Breadfruit is a nutrient-dense source of carbohydrates that is high in fiber and low in fat. One cup of breadfruit contains a good dose of potassium, vitamin C, and calcium.

For a happier gut, it’s best to load up on carbs from both sources that are higher as well as lower in fiber and be sure to spread your fiber intake throughout the day. A 1-cup serving of breadfruit has about 24 grams of sugar, but this level will vary depending on ripeness.

Breadfruit is an excellent source of dietary fiber which is important for smooth digestion. Including breadfruit in the diet can help prevent and relieve constipation and bloating.

HOW MANY SPECIES OF BREADFRUIT ARE THERE?

Three related species—Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg, Artocarpus camansi Blanco, and Artocarpus mariannensis Trécul—make up what is known as the “breadfruit complex.” They are members of the Moraceae (fig) family. The nutritious fruit and seeds of all three species are edible.

DOES BREADFRUIT LEAVES HAVE HEALTH BENEFITS?

Breadfruit leaves effectively treat diseases such as liver, hepatitis, enlarged spleen, heart, kidney, high blood pressure, diabetes and also to cure skin swelling or itching.

CAN BREADFRUIT LEAVES MAKE A TEA?

Use a stainless steel pot, not aluminum because Breadfruit Leaves reacts with aluminum. Then boil the dried leaves in two liters of water until half the water is gone. Then add more water to bring the water level back to 2 liters, then bring to a boil again, and then let the tea cool.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO EAT BREADFRUIT?

Breadfruit can be used at all stages of development and prepared many ways. It is typically eaten at the mature, starchy stage, when it is often used as a potato substitute in many dishes. It can be baked, roasted, steamed, boiled, fried, microwaved, grilled, barbecued, and more.

Turn Your Profits to Investment.

By Joedi J.

Despite the challenges, it was a great year!

Instead of thinking about what to buy with your farm profits, how about focusing on how to invest it?

While many farmers have taken the time to think about what they want to buy with their income, it’s more important to first consider how you want to invest it. If you don’t have a long-term plan for how you want your business to grow, then it’ll be difficult to determine which investments make sense and which don’t.

So what are some of the investments that do make sense? For example, if you’ve been using your grandfather’s tractor since the day you started

farming, then investing in a new tractor will almost certainly lead to increased profits over time. This is because a new tractor will be more efficient than your grandfather’s old one in every way: It’ll require less maintenance and use less fuel. As another example, if your goal is to expand your farm by 500 acres over the next five years, then buying land now at today’s prices will likely pay off handsomely down the road—assuming that land values continue increasing on pace with current trends.

There are many other examples of investment opportunities whether it is for equipment, technology, investing in stocks etc. Regardless of your decision, before proceeding, carefully consider your investments and the time in which you will see a return on investments (ROI).

Some of our Farmers Greatest Fears!

There are three kinds of people in this world: those who know how to farm, those who don’t know how, and the Budding Farmers . We posed the question. “ What are your greatest fears, here are some of the responses:

1. Charlene Collins: Drought.

2. Terrie Mac: unable to find good honest workers and drought.

3. Winston Cross: Praedial Larceny

4. Nordia Williams: Unable to buy fertilizer. Thats the biggest set back.

5. Steve Whyte: Drought conditions and then Flood Last year, I lost 1.2 million.

6. Odette White: No market for my produce and unable to get the right price for them.

In our recent Budding Farmers Online Poll attempting to capture the fears of farmers, Praedial Larceny and Droughts were cited as their main fears. The difficulty of finding willing and able labour to work on the farms followed closely behind. It is not lost on the editorial team that the top three fears were due to factors that are largely outside of the control of the individual farmer. As such we will dedicate some space to exploring some of these issues in this and upcoming issues.

Fear is a natural part of the job; learning how to manage it, is what makes farmers our heroes!

AgriTrends

By: G. Henry

Over the next decades, a new innovation will revolutionise the efficiency of farms all over the world. It will be a breakthrough in the Agriculture and Fisheries sector. This will not come soon enough but, in the year 2050 it is estimated that the human population will be nearly 10 billion. This means we need to double the amount of food we now produce. To attain this, we need all hands on deck. Let’s be realistic. Here are a few questions to consider:

• How is the government intervening and making this attainable?

• How are farmers being trained to take on these new innovations?

• Are younger farmers being introduced to the concept of farming and these new innovations?

• How will these new innovations be financed if majority of our farmers are not able to afford them?

Here are three top trends to watch for that will impact the agriculture industry :

Precision Agriculture

The use of drones and robots in agriculture is a growing trend due to the potential to increase efficiency, reduce costs and improve crop yields. Technologies used in precision agriculture include drones, robots, remote sensing, GPS-based data collection and advanced sensors. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) will enable the technology to become more widely available both on the farm and in the marketplace.

Climate change adaptation and mitigation

Climate change is one of the biggest global threats. From sea level rise affecting most coastal areas, increased heatwaves and wildfires, more frequent intense storms and flooding, increase in ocean acidification, droughts and desertification in many regions, decimation of coral reefs and associated fisheries, mass species extinctions and so on. The risks to the agricultural sector are substantial. As the number one employer in the world – over 65% of those living in extreme poverty depend upon agriculture for their livelihoods – a rapid transition to sustainable food systems is essential if we are to achieve the SDGs in 8 years- 2030.

Regenerative agriculture

This lays attention on the rejuvenation and biodiversity of soil and soil distribution. It revives the soil for the upcoming cropping period. Farmers undertake the following practices while implementing regenerative agriculture:

• Reducing tillage

• No-till farming

• Crop rotation

•

Planting cover crops to retain soil fertility

These methods enable sequestration and make your fields act as a carbon-sink.

These days conventional farming practices aren’t easy to attain owing to the climatic fluctuations and extremities. Also, with growing urbanization, growing crops in populated cities along with population hike isn’t favorable. A solution to the above situation is controlled environment agriculture (CEA) where we subject the plants to a controlled potion of light, humidity, nutrients, and water. Some of the planned indoor settings available to attain CEA are vertical farming, indoor farming, greenhouses, etc. A few new techniques are found to attain a balanced equilibrium for plants- aeroponics, hydroponics, aquaponics, and more.

Each day brings new ideas, new technologies, and new trends. Agriculture will be shaped by many new consumer and business practices in the years ahead.

GOING V

V E R T I C A L

By Anmarie Spence

ertical gardens are a beautiful way to make use of space in your yard, and their design can be as versatile as you want it to be. If you’re interested in starting a vertical garden, the most important factors are choosing the right plants and containers, and figuring out how to support them.

Vertical gardens are a great way to add some color and greenery to your home, but getting started can be a little intimidating. That’s why we’ve put together this list of tips for planning your vertical garden.

First, gather up your supplies: containers, plants, trellis or other support system, soil, and a trowel. Make sure you have at least one container per plant and that you have appropriate soil for each plant. Check the plant tags for further guidance on specific plants’ needs.

Next, decide what kind of plants you want in your garden. Succulents are a good choice if you’re relatively inexperienced or don’t have much time to care for the plants.

If you’re planting succulents or other shallow-rooted plants, place them in the containers of your choice and position the trellis behind them. Otherwise, place the trellis first and then place the containers in front of it.

Before placing your plants in their containers or burying their roots in the soil, make sure they’re firmly attached to the trellis by wrapping wire around the stems and securing it with a twist tie or other small fastener.

HAPPY GROWING!

What to plant & When.

By Joedi J.

Don’t forget that when its time to plant this season, we are here for you! We’ve got everything you need to make the most of your acreage/ home spaces when the time comes. Just check out our easy-to-use guide for what to plant and when. Just as a note, our Budding Farmers plant callaloo and pakchoi all year round. :) Happy planting!

March

• Beetroot

• Cabbage

• Carrot

• Cauliflower

• Celery

• Egg Plant

• Cucumber

• Escallion

• Lettuce

• Okra

• Onion

• Pumpkin

• Hot pepper

• Sweet pepper

• String beans

• Tomatoes

• Turnip

• Watermelon

• Zucchini

April

• Beetroot

• Cabbage

• Carrot

• Cauliflower

• Cantaloupe

• Celery

• Cucumber

• Escallion

• Okra

• Onion

• Pumpkin

• String beans

• Thyme

• Tomatoes

• Watermelon

• Zucchini

Plant vegetables such as cauliflower, eggplant, tomatoes, sweet corn,sweet pepper, hot pepper; always ensure your crops have adequate water, maintain your garden and look out for weeds, diseases and pests. Source (Farmer’s Almanac)

Plant all vegetables ensuring you have adequate moisture. Apply fungicides and insecticides to protect your crops. (Go natural if possible)

Agri Invest in an CULTURE.

By Grace Henry

Agri- culture is the way of life of farmers. It includes the learned behavior and practices of growing crops and rearing animals.

Agri-culture also encompasses a set of values and social relationships that are taught by extension officers to new generations of farmers.

Budding Farmers Ja is on a mission to introduce smart and sustainable agri-culture among the next generation of farmers.

Budding Farmers

Rosie Vendor of the month

Photography: Cedric Henry @cedhenryphotography

Location: Across from Loshusan Supermarket, Barbican

JUS’ STOP!

By Grace Henry

Jus’ STOP!

Yuh tief by day, an’ yuh thief by night, Yuh jus’ a add to di farmers’ plight. Yuh care zero bout di hurt you cause, bout di family lef hungry, bout di future yuh blight.

Jus’ STOP!

It’s di farmer’s blood, sweat an sacrifice. Yuh look pan di cow, di pig, di chicken and goat, Yuh a look pan di farmer’s dem vegetable an fruit...You brute!

Jus’ STOP!

Yuh strike once, twice, an den trice! Listen, we jus’ have one advice,

Jus’ STOP, or yuh will pay di price.

If you’ve never experienced the joy of accomplishing more than you can imagine, plant a garden.

- Robert Brault

The future of Farming starts with you !

Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., M.P Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries