KINGSTON, Jamaica — When 42-year-old Kayanne Cole decided to go into farming, she did not know how to properly use a machete. She had never cleared land, never planted a crop and never imagined herself operating a farm.

“I knew absolutely nothing about farming,” Cole said.

Just over two years later, the financial advisor and mother of two is cultivating more than five acres of land in Murphy Hill, St Ann, steadily carving out a place for herself in agriculture while balancing full-time work, parenting and the unpredictable realities of farming.

Cole said her path into agriculture began in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic after visiting a client who was a farmer.

“I saw his location, I saw his cultivation, and you know, it spoke to me. I became interested in it,” she shared.

She noted that initially, her intention was not to operate her own farm but to invest in an existing enterprise.

“Eventually, I said, ‘Why not try to do it myself?” Cole said.

Encouraged to acquire land and try farming independently, Cole formally began her operation in 2023, transitioning from observer to hands-on farmer.

With guidance from a mentor, she learned everything from land preparation to crop care, gradually building competence and confidence.

“Farming teaches patience. You put a seed in the soil, and you wait. It doesn’t happen overnight,” she pointed out.

Cabbage growing on farmland operated by Kayanne Cole in Murphy Hill, St Ann
Photo by Nickieta Sterling

Agriculture remains a male-dominated sector, and Cole said she quickly became aware of the perceptions surrounding women in farming.

“Some people believe women only come to reap or harvest. They don’t expect you to be involved in planting or to be the backbone of the operation,” she explained.

Determined to be taken seriously, she committed herself fully, often starting her days as early as 4:30 am. Her mornings begin with checking weather conditions, calling the men who assist on the farm and coordinating tasks before preparing her children for school and heading to her main job.

During the week, she visits the farm as needed, especially on harvesting days. Sundays, however, are non-negotiable for her.

“Sunday is farm day and farm day is family day,” Cole said.

From early morning, her children accompany her to the farm, helping to plant, running through the fields and learning through experience. Meals are cooked on-site, and the day becomes a shared family activity.

“I don’t want my children to feel like mommy is always too busy. I want them to be part of what I’m building,” Cole said.

As her involvement deepened, Cole said farming has become more than a means of earning additional income. It has personal and long-term significance, serving as a means of building generational wealth for her children.

“Farming to me… is purpose. Basically, it is independence and it is food, security and legacy for my family — for my children and my children’s children. It is setting an example for other women,” she expressed.

Before Hurricane Melissa, Cole was growing Scotch bonnet peppers. The crop showed promise, but much of it was destroyed when the storm passed through western Jamaica in October of last year.

“I was nervous and scared,” she admited. “Not just for my home but for the farm. You put your money and your effort into the land, and you worry about losing it.”

The hurricane caused significant losses, forcing her into rebuilding mode. She is currently replanting cabbage and Irish potatoes, while gradually clearing sections of the farm as manpower allows.

Cole mainly supplies local markets, individual buyers, vendors and small supermarkets, but her ambitions extend further.

“Being on the north coast, I see myself eventually supplying hotels consistently,” she said. “I also hope to explore export in the future.”

Despite the challenges, Cole remains hopeful.

Over the next five years, she hopes to expand her acreage, acquire her own machinery, including a tractor, and reduce dependence on limited shared resources. She also aims to create employment opportunities and establish at least one or two core crops that can sustain the business.

She wants her journey to serve as encouragement, particularly to young women considering agriculture.

“You can be feminine, confident and still be a farmer. Those things don’t cancel each other out,” she encouraged.

When asked what makes her most proud, Cole’s answer is simple.

“I didn’t quit. Even when things didn’t work out the way I planned, I stayed, and I am proud of that,” she said.

Farmers impacted by Hurricane Melissa can access support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, which is implementing a structured plan for the recovery of Jamaica’s agricultural sector.

The two-year plan, comprising immediate, medium-term and long-term interventions, mobilises Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) full technical, extension and engineering teams and leverages partnerships among key agencies, farmer groups and the private sector.

Assistance is being provided for replanting, rehabilitation of infrastructure, farmer training and supply chain restoration, and includes providing seed, seedlings, fertilisers, chemicals, irrigation, and ploughing, tilling and land-clearing services to help farmers replant faster.

Over the long-term, interventions will be provided to build climate resilience, diversify production and modernise farm systems.

Through RADA and the Jamaica Network of Rural Women Producers (JNRWP), female farmers receive training in financial literacy, climate-smart practices, and mental health.

— JIS