Farming A way of life in Zee Zight
Rice Farmer Hoomesh Bhojraj
Rice Farmer Hoomesh Bhojraj

By Michel Outridge

HOOMESH Bhojraj grew up farming. His grandparents, his parents, siblings are all a family of farmers and it is the only thing he knows to do to make a living.

He is a resident of Zee Zight, West Coast Berbice, and has been utilising a four-acre plot at the rear of the village for cash crops such as tomatoes, bora, sweet peppers, cabbage and boulanger.

Some farmers of Zee Zight Village (Carl Croker photos)

The 54-year-old related that he has a plot over in the backlands of Cotton Tree Village — the neighbouring community — where he cultivates only watermelons.

He reported too that he has a 30-acre rice farm also in the Cotton Tree backlands and he is hardly ever at home except to sleep because farming takes up most of his time in daylight hours.

Bhojraj stated that he would sell his produce of watermelons to wholesalers and the cash crops would be sold by his wife at the Rosignol Market.

The farmer related that the paddy is also sold to nearby rice mills, but oftentimes the returns are not substantial, noting that a lot goes into farming such as tools, equipment, chemicals and heavy-duty tractors, etc.

“Being a farmer is a choice and it entails hard work daily and at times it gets to you, because we have a lot of challenges; sometimes we hardly make a profit and the wholesalers would often rip me off with pricing,” he said.

The farmer pointed out that being a farmer there is no day-off and depending on the weather, they would yield a good harvest.

Bhojraj stated that in the dry season he would prepare the land for the wet spell, and when it is dry, he would incur some losses due to a lack of freshwater for his crops.

He explained that the water used for cash crops is sourced from the canal which leads to the conservancy and it would turn to saltwater when it doesn’t rain for an extended period of time, which dries up the plants.

On his way to the farm

The Zee Zight resident told the Pepperpot Magazine that the freshwater is good for the crops but currently, the dry spell is taking a toll on them.

Bhojraj said they depend heavily on the water for their produce to bloom and during January and February, when the rainy season starts, they would get good produce.

Bhojraj reported that he, like many farmers, is not getting markets for their produce.

He recalled that long ago, they had a radio programme called “Farmer’s Market” in which the prices for vegetables and fruits were aired and they knew prices, but now they don’t know; as such, the wholesalers have an advantage.

“It would be wise to bring back that programme on the airwaves because it will help us with pricing; and it would be very beneficial if we get our own market in this village being one of the communities that farm on a large scale,” he said.

The wholesalers buy in bulk and they call their prices and with perishables they cannot control the pricing as such, they would often make a loss.

Bhojraj, like many other farmers, would like the administration to consider having a Farmer’s Market in that village, a place where they can comfortably sell their produce and make a profit as farmers.

Bora cultivation in the village

He added that they once had a farmer’s group, but that was dismantled a while back and they have been considering reactivating that group in which they can advocate for better benefits for farmers.

“Being a farmer is hard labour and the work doesn’t end at the end of the day, it is continuous and they face a lot of hardships such as getting rid of pests, diseases among the plants and lack of freshwater and equipment for their crops,” he said.

Bhojraj disclosed that he would start his day 04:00hrs daily and the work doesn’t end sometimes, but he is cut out for such a task.

It was evident that he is in for the long haul because when the Pepperpot Magazine caught up with him, he was on his tractor going to his farm.

Bhojraj reported that most farmers in that community and neighbouring communities have cordial relations and they would often assist each other with their crops in terms of heavy equipment such as tractors, combines and ploughs, among others.

“We are the backbone of this country and at least we should get some form of assistance such as a reduced price for seeds and other agricultural tools and equipment,” he said.

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