Young farmer hopes to reap big from greenhouse technology
EIGHTEEN-year-old Omar Guthrie not only has his eyes fixed on becoming a successful young farmer, but is already making bold steps towards fulfilling his dream of establishing one of the largest greenhouses in Jamaica.
The Brown’s Town High School past student’s passion for farming was further strengthened when his school embarked on a greenhouse project.
His desire to enter that sector when he graduated from high school last year was realised when Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partners (NJBP) helped him to establish his first greenhouse.
“Noranda took a group of us on a tour of some greenhouses in their mine area and I saw the greenhouses and liked what I saw, so Noranda gave me an offer, which was unexpected, but I took it,” Guthrie recalled.
He explained that he was involved in agriculture from the eighth grade and took greater interest during his senior years when he specialised in Agricultural Science.
“When I went on the tour, I saw greenhouse farming as an opportunity for me and I was the first to respond to Noranda’s offer and started putting up the structure for my greenhouse,” he told the Jamaica Observer North East, adding that he received a lot of encouragement from passers-by who saw him working on the greenhouse.
The mild-mannered young farmer from Enfield, St Ann said although there was some initial scepticism from family members, they are now happy at his success.
“My father didn’t really want me to do it, he doesn’t really see a future for me in farming, but I saw my future a long time and the greenhouse is helping me to realise that,” he added.
Guthrie explained that he started growing callaloo and sweet peppers last October, but challenges with the callaloo production forced him to discontinue it and concentrate only on sweet peppers.
Following success with the sweet peppers, Guthrie has now added Scotch bonnet pepper and cauliflower to his growing line of produce.
However, like thousands of other farmers, he said his major challenge is the meagre sum some vendors are willing to pay for the produce.
While vendors are his primary customers now, Guthrie hopes to break into the bigger market and wants to establish a relationship with other small and medium-sized establishments such as restaurants, supermarkets and hotels.
“I have no other interest right now than to give my farm my full attention I am very happy with what I am reaping, the results are just truly wonderful,” an elated Guthrie said.
The assistance provided to Guthrie by NJBP resulted from a project the Bauxite company started at his school in which a modern greenhouse was donated to the institution by the company.
“While we were working with the school to get the house operational, as a student Omar showed great interest and was very dependable,” agriculturist at Noranda Jamaica John Gordon told the Observer North East.
Based on his high level of interest as a student, Gordon said the company was confident that Guthrie only needed a start to get going.
Other schools which have already benefited from NJBP’s greenhouse programme are Aboukir Institute, York Castle High, Aabuthnott Gallimore High and St Christopher School for the Deaf.
Meanwhile, Guthrie sees farming and greenhouse production as ways in which young people like himself can help their families. He wants more young people to become involved.
Government, he believes, also has a role to play in attracting more youth to the sector. It is also his hope that a special agricultural school can be established for persons to learn more about greenhouse and other technologies involved in farming.
“Some people think that only slow people do farming, but right now farming is making the most money in the country, and the country needs more farmers to help develop our economy,” Guthrie added.
More youths, he said, need to see farming not as a last resort but as something that can help to lift themselves and their families out of poverty and as something that can help the country.
“Right now I am looking to increase my water storage so I can put additional houses into operation,” he said. “For me, the sky is the limit. I would encourage young persons like myself to get involved in agriculture; it can be rewarding if you put in the effort.”
He said the bauxite company has shown a method in which local materials are used to build the houses so the cost of construction is reduced.
Guthrie said he was excited about his farm and has been sharing not just his crops but some of his earnings with his extended family.
He also had high praise for Noranda.
“If it wasn’t for Noranda I don’t know what I would be doing right now because there are no jobs out there for young people. So I am very grateful and I want to expand on my farm because the greenhouse has helped me out a lot,” he said.