-Rohman leaves electrician career to manage own farm

By Michel Outridge

It was the will to grow his own food that prompted Saeed Rohman to leave his job as an electrician to become a cash crop farmer.
He had inherited a plot of land from his father and was focused on putting it to good use.

Rohman was in a hammock under a small shed when the Pepperpot Magazine caught up with him as he was supervising an employee, who was tasked with watering the plants.
The one and a half acre of land is used to cultivate cabbage, peppers and tomatoes.
The 25-year-old said that he plants mostly cabbage, which takes 90 days (three months) to grow after which he would reap and sell it to wholesale buyers or go to Port Mourant Market on weekends.

The father of one reported that he is providing employment for eight workers, who work on a shift system.
“Farming for me is something natural and seeing my plants grow from seed to harvesting is fulfilling because I am promoting food production and it makes me feel good by providing my service to the community as well as employing the residents,” he said.

Rohman stated that the land was just sitting there and now it is being utilised to bring in an income in his home, but there are problems.
“Farming is not what it is cut out to be at times because due to disease I lost an entire crop of sweet peppers and I had to cut it out and burn it so in this kind of work you have to expect the unexpected and be able to bounce back or you will get discouraged easily.”

This young farmer does not reside in No. 74 Village but has his plot of farm land there and would journey from No. 68 Village daily to oversee his crops.
Rohman disclosed that he started farming last March and soon dropped his electrician and his buying and selling jobs to focus all of his attention on agriculture.
“There is no greater feeling than having your own small business because you don’t have to work with people and you can do it on your own time however, you wish.”
He explained that he can safely say he gets it easier than some farmers, who have their cultivation in the backlands area.

Meanwhile, Rasheed Ali, who was tasked with watering the plants told the Pepperpot Magazine that it is not a whole day job.
“You come early before sunrise and do your work and return in the afternoon to do the same and you get $3,000 for the day which is reasonable,” he said.
The 19-year-old added that they have a shift system so the workers know when they have to work.
Ali is taking care of his elderly mother and is expected to earn so he decided to work in the agricultural field since jobs are not easy to get.