Women embrace farming technology in St Ann

A recent meeting of greenhouse farmers in Water Valley, Alexandria, St Ann, revealed that a large number of women are embracing farming technologies.

Scores of women were in attendance at the signing of documents for the construction of a cold storage facility.

However, while women are gravitating towards greenhouse farming, one female farmer pointed out that young people are not embracing this new way.

Verene Campbell, a greenhouse farmer in Watt Town, St Ann, said she wants to see more young people choosing a career in farming. Campbell said when greenhouse farming was brought to her community she thought more young people would gravitate towards the technology. However, this has not been happening.

Watt Town was one of three St Ann communities which benefited from the Jamaica Social Investment Fund and Jamaica Bauxite Institute Water Harvesting Cluster Greenhouse Project in 2015. Twenty greenhouses were built in the community on lands provided by the Noranda Bauxite Company.

When the greenhouse technology was introduced to the community, residents were excited.

“When this started out we thought we would have young people, but apparently nobody trust what was happening. They are thinking this is only a scam, but they now see it is real,” Campbell said.

With the greenhouse farmers of Watt Town, Nine Miles, Tobolski, and Burnt Ground set to benefit from a cold storage facility, Campbell said she hopes young people will be motivated to consider greenhouse farming as an option.

“I’m hoping we will have some more young people on board,” she said, adding that greenhouse farming has provided an income for many in the community.