JAGDEO Persaud used to be a rice farmer, a job he had almost all his life, but these days, due to old age, he was forced to step back and let his son manage the rice field and farming aspect of things.

The 81-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is stricken with diabetes and these days he is contented with being able to relax and enjoy the life of a retiree who never had a day off in his younger days.

Persaud, a mild-mannered man, is the father of four and lives at his home with his wife, a son and his family.

His wife was away that day, spending time in the city at their daughter’s place.

Persaud related that he has been living in Champayne Village for the past 52 years. As a senior citizen, he is quite satisfied with life because he would receive his monthly old-age pension and his children contribute to his welfare.

“Life is what you make it and I strive to make it easy and good. Despite challenges you must find ways to minimize issues to live a full life and being able to enjoy the simpler things,” he said.

Persaud is originally from Annandale, East Coast Demerara. He recalled attending Buxton School and when he was younger, he had a sister who was living in Champayne Village and he used to visit.

The elder stated that he met his wife and they started a family after marriage and he settled in that village and it was not easy, but he believed he made a wise decision.

Looking back, Persaud reported that he started out small as a rice farmer from scratch and he worked his way up and bought things and equipment he needed to make his job easier; and that job enabled him to provide for his family.

He disclosed that he did all he could to ensure his children went to school and had access to education and it was through education he changed their lives. Today, a daughter is a teacher, another works with the Ministry of Education in the city and he has a grand-daughter who is also an educator.

Persaud is very proud of their academic achievements. He now leads a humble, simple life and whenever he is up to it, he would go spend time with his daughter on the Corentyne and also at the one who lives in the city.

“I would tell my children to look after their own children but they would say, ‘Daddy, you brought us up well and we are thankful and it is now our time to repay you, to look after you,” he said.

Chaitram Surujdem, the rice farmer
Chaitram Surujdem is a rice farmer and at 70 years old, he is very active, has no illnesses, and has the zest of a teenager.

The 70-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is the father of four and he has four grandchildren, one of whom he was babysitting that day when the team visited.

He reported that his ingredient to being healthy is hard work and even though he is unable to get a day off, he doesn’t mind, because continuous work agrees with him.

Surujdem explained that his wife had a mishap in the house and she fell, which caused her to receive an injury to the ankle and is hospitalized.

As such, his daughter is tasked with going to the hospital three times per day and he has to pitch in to watch the children.

The elder told the Pepperpot Magazine that he cultivates 40 acres of rice and he would sell his paddy to a rice mill at de Hoop, Mahaica.

Surujdem stated that he is from Airy Hall, Mahaicony, and he used to work on a rice field in Champayne Village and it was during one of his visits he met his wife.

He explained that the rice field was within a short distance from his wife’s home and they got married and he settled in the community and raised a family.

The rice farmer has a prime plot of land just as you enter the village, to one side and he has a lovely home with a very clean environment.