When you go to the supermarket do you just shop? Or do you read labels carefully to see exactly what you are consuming? Knowing about the food you’re eating, who produces it and where it’s produced is a great lifestyle practice. It also doesn’t hurt to know more about the persons who produce what you’re eating.
On Wednesday February 13, 2019, I had a talk with farmer Ricky to get a view on production from a farmer’s perspective. Thirty eight year old Roderick Stewart is a small absentee farmer that resides in Canada but oversees the rearing of livestock, primarily pigs and chicken, back in his home country.
A native of Flankers District, Montego Bay, Jamaica and a Canadian citizen, Roderick is a certified Mechanic but is in love with the idea of farming. In speaking with him, I learned that he was unable to kickstart his farming business in Canada, some of the reasons being the inadequate help to run his animal farm by whom and how he wanted as well as finding the right land space – so he had his farm set up in his home country where he could get help from his family that also shares his passion.
Roderick says his decision to get involved in agriculture stemmed from having uncles and close relatives who were invested in farming as he grew up. He says that as he grew, he too developed a love for the practice even though life had steered him in a different direction at first.
“The society I grew up in had a stereotypical view on life where after high school, a college certification was the next goal as you were expected to become either a teacher or a lawyer. As I got older, I realized that the agriculture sector had very promising careers as well. It’s an easy way to become an entrepreneur – to be the boss of yourself and I like that,” says the absentee farmer.
He also strongly believes in the Jamaican phrase ‘grow what you eat, eat what you grow.’
“With where society is right now, people are more concerned about consuming local and organic foods, myself and my family included.”
Roderick, who plans to extend his business into a polyculture by adding vegetable cultivation to his farm land, believes that agriculture is a viable income generator that remains and will always be pivotal to driving higher levels of sustainable economic growth.
Prices per whole pig will cost JMD $40.000 and CAN $450. As for chickens, a whole (average of 4/5lbs) chicken costs approximately $700 JMD and CAN $8.50. He explains that since he implements and practices natural and organic ways of farming, his produce may be sold at a higher price in supermarkets as there is a lot that is attached to organic farming, but purchasing directly from him as well as other local farmers and farmers marketers would cost less.
That was honestly an eye opener for me! Getting to the farmers or local farmers markets are more time consuming as they are not located in the center of our hometowns. But if it is a practice that will improve our health and increase our savings then I implore you all to support your local farmers.
Anushia's Kitchen 