Unwavering Love for Farming Keeps Couple Very Active

In the small rural community of Giddy Hall, St. Elizabeth, Alandor Barrett and his wife, Doris Clarke-Barrett, cultivate the land that sustains them and feeds the nation.

As Jamaica celebrates Farmers’ Month in April under the theme ‘Celebrating our Food Heroes’, the husband and wife represent the dedication, resilience and passion that farmers exhibit to keep the nation nourished.

Their story is a partnership and an unwavering love for farming, which has been passed down through generations and is now being nurtured for the future.

In an interview with JIS News, Mr. Barrett says farming runs in his blood, as he grew up watching his parents till the soil to provide for the family.

Though he initially ventured into construction and even travelled abroad for work, the call of agriculture remained too strong to resist.

Ten years ago, he invested his savings to lease five acres spanning Giddy Hall and White Hall and transformed himself into a full-time farmer with a focus on building a life of independence and purpose.

“Well, I experienced a lot. Now you can put in a small crop, and you can break even and other times you make good sales, and you can be happy because you are independent,” Mr. Barrett says.

The journey has not been without challenges, but his love for agriculture fuels his commitment.

This has yielded a bounty of crops, including peanuts, yam, sweet pepper, banana, coconut, plantain, livestock and much more. The couple are also engaged in planting coco that has attracted vendors from “St. James to Kingston” who purchase the tuber and the other crops in bulk.

“People from all over come into this area to buy produce. So, we don’t have to go to the market ourselves to sell. They come to [us],” says Mr. Barrett.

“I can tell you that recently, a person just come by to say they need 300 pounds of coco. So, [we] never had an issue finding market,” he adds.

Drought, praedial larceny and the high cost of fertilisers and sprays have tested the couple’s resolve. They recalled a time when they had over 1,000 seedlings ready to be planted with no rainfall in sight.

They resorted to using their car to transport water from a spring in Luana to keep the crops alive.

Despite the setbacks, Mr. Barrett remains unwavering in his commitment to agriculture, as it fills him with a unique sense of satisfaction. Also, standing firmly by his side is his wife whose strength and dedication are also integral to the farm’s success.

“Every day I’m on the farm with my wife. She works like a lion and always by my side helping on the farm. Without her I don’t know how I would manage. Sometimes if I can’t reach the farm, she will reach,” Mr. Barrett tells JIS News.

Every weekday at 6:00 a.m. the couple arrive at their farm and work diligently until midday, resting only on weekends. However, during harvest periods, they would employ additional workers to help meet demand.

For Mrs. Barrett, working alongside her husband from sunrise ensures the farm thrives. For her, it is not just about tilling the land but also about empowerment, particularly for women who are increasingly finding their place in the industry.

“Being a farmer, it’s very good. It’s good when you can support each other and be with each other, and help in everything that’s going on,” Mrs. Barrett says.

“It’s also great now seeing lots of women in farming. The profession has its advantage and disadvantage, but it’s good when they (women) step out and do what they can [and] farming has helped a lot,” she adds.

She believes the future of farming in the ‘bread basket’ parish is bright and will continue to provide not only for her family but for the country at large.

The recent rehabilitation of the Giddy Hall to Mount Charles Farm Road by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining has brought real improvement to the area. This roadway now allows vehicles to easily access the Barretts’ farm, thus boosting sales and making the movement of goods more efficient.

It is a welcome development that the Barretts credit with increasing customer visits and helping to ease the daily operations on the farm.

The couple express worry about the future of agriculture if younger Jamaicans are not encouraged and supported to enter the field. They believe the solution lies in making agriculture more attractive and viable through access to resources and stronger institutional support.