ROGER Moore, 46 years old, of Prosperity Street, Mocha Arcadia has been engaged in farming for more than 25 years through ‘thick and thick’, as he sees it. A family man and father of five boys, he told the Pepperpot Magazine that he has gone through a lot or hard times, but has never seen himself being involved in anything other form of employment.

“I love working with myself; I enjoy being my own boss and I see a great survival from what I am doing. The thing is that it is hard work, really hard work when you have to clear land, get your drainage and irrigation in order and so forth, but in the end it pays off; you get your rewards,” he said.

RAID project
He said that now with the RAID project, which has cost a lot of money, the desire is that the young people get back to the land. However, there are some challenges that people will eventually get over as they begin to see more results unfolding. “For example, you cannot see the coconut trees and others bearing as yet; it has to take some time before you can see real progress from it…There is, for example, the irrigation and infrastructural works that was done and some people are still a bit skeptical because of the terrible flooding that we used to have some years ago,” even as he urged some of his fellow farmers not to back down from any apparent challenge.

He also spoke of times when he suffered a great amount of losses – from ground provisions and vegetables to even some of his life stocks. This, he said was as a result of what he considered deliberate flooding of the farm land, “But I was always determined to never give up on my farm and until now I am working hard and always seeing something to encourage me,” he offered.

Advice to farmer
Moore said that many people see farming as a place where they can make a lot of money; that it is a lucrative business, but they do not consider the challenges that can happen not only in farming but any other type of business.

“My advice to any young farmer that farming is a lucrative business; it is just that it has its challenges, just like buying a car or a motorbike, you ride it fast today and then tomorrow it may give you some problems; there are challenges and they have to be able to ‘weather the storm’…I went through it all – 2005 floods and many others, with water till to waist, paddling even on the road itself in boats.

“The losses were plenty – pigs, cows, all of that. But I know that I am not the type of person who would get up to go to a eight to five work; I pace myself and whatever I get I say that I will make it work; $1, $2 or what, I will make it work,” he posited.

Moore said that as farmers there must be that dedication and stated that especially for the young farmers, that they must be willing to be humble; dedicate themselves; apply themselves towards the trade and them much progress will be seen, though not right away.

Moderise approach
He said that some young people see farming as a cutlass and fork “bruk back” work, with a “dutty shut and pants,” but reminded them that life has changed for farmers, just as it is with many other professions. Farming is now different and must be taken to a next level, he said, pointing to the fact that farmers can now operate like many in the Europe and other places, where farmers now go to the job with better clothing, farmers’ hat and even clean vehicles, even though they are farmers.

“However, we know that times are changing and we know that oil will soon come and Guyana has a lot of iron vehicles; therefore we will go to the different agro-processing, higher level of produce like the fruits and vegetables and so on,” adding that as a cattle farmer, with a many heads of cows, goats, some fowls and other things he know that farming has exciting times ahead.

Moore said that the younger farmers would need help from government agencies such as the Ministry of Agriculture and others. He stated that with a lot more involvement from these agencies, he believes that a lot more of the young people would get involved. “They would now know a lot of things about farming, but with the help and guidance of these places they would be willing to come on board,” adding that with regular visits from officers of the Ministry of Agriculture to teach the young people he was very sure that they would do exploits in the farm, especially as it relates to Mocha Arcadia.