Seven-Year-Old Goat Farmer Gets Help from Agriculture Ministry to Replenish Depleted Herd

It was not long ago that seven-year-old Devoni Grant was the proud owner of eight goats and a promising livestock enterprise, which he operated alongside his father, Devon Grant, in Sandy Bay, Clarendon, where they reside.

So attached was the youngster to his goats that he gave each of them a name, including his favourite, a nanny who m he called “Gal”.

Devoni was, however, not prepared for the misfortune of thieves stealing four of his goats, about a month ago, including his prized Gal.

“He is very emotional about it,” his father tells JIS News, while sharing that it was his son who inspired him to go into farming.

The businessman, whose background is in construction, says that at the urging of his son, the family began to plant crops in their backyard and purchased a few goats to start a business.

“He told me that he [wanted] to get into the goat-rearing business. So, I started him off with one she-goat [which had kids, that subsequently increased the number to] four. I bought him another one, because he wanted to change the breed; so, I bought him a Nubian goat so he can have variety. We went on until he had eight goats and then the thieves struck,” Mr. Grant recounts.

As fate would have it, just two days after the incident, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., was doing a walk-through in the area, and after learning what occurred, made a promise to Devoni to help him replenish his herd.

This was fulfilled during the Jamaica 4-H Clubs National Achievement Day Expo at the Denbigh Showground in Clarendon on May 12, when Devoni was announced as one of six youngsters who would be receiving a goat from the Ministry.

“The Minister encouraged him [by telling him] that he [was] there to support him and [would] replace the goat. He promised to help improve the techniques and get him registered with RADA (Rural Agricultural Development Authority) to get advice on how to raise the goats properly and to fix up a proper pen,” Mr. Grant points out.

The soft-spoken Devoni, still shaken by the theft, tells JIS News that he chose the goat business because of his love for the animal, and like many other entrepreneurs, he simply wanted to earn his own money.

In school, Devoni enjoys Mathematics and Reading, and his favourite memory of the days of his full herd was how he would hand-feed the animals from whatever he was eating or how they would follow him around like his pets.

Regarding Minister Charles’ commitment, Devoni says that he feels “a little bit better” knowing that he can press on, despite the circumstances, and continue doing what he loves.

Devoni is, undoubtedly, assured of the backing of his devoted father, who tells JIS News, “I am here to support him in every way possible.”

“I am very thankful [to] the Minister for coming on board in offering his support as well,” Mr. Grant adds.