The farmers of Lancaster say that their hard work eventually pays off

THE rural areas of Guyana have a peaceful way of life fostered by the people’s friendly attitude, the slower pace of life and people who still live off the land.

Lancaster is one of these welcoming agricultural-driven communities. Located a few villages after Rose Hall, in East Berbice, Lancaster is home to an estimated 300 people, many of whom farm. Agriculture in these regions is sometimes done to make ends meet, but it has also become a large part of the village’s identity.

Reynold Emmanuel was born and raised in the village, and has always seen agriculture as a part of daily life. Even in his youth, he shared, farming was present. “Growing up, it was farming. We did mostly rice farming, but I worked with the Local Authorities from 1970 to 1986,” Reynold said.

Farming roots in families run deep, as Reynold’s father was also a farmer. Although he has been a part of many other fields of work, the lush green fields called him back, and Reynold was a farmer for more than three decades before retiring. “I started rice work fully in 1983, and stopped in 2015,” he said.

Farming is a noble profession, and farmers would say it is not without its fair share of difficulties, from preparing the land with tractors to ensuring the health of the crops right up until the moment they are reaped. But all these challenges, Reynold says, are worthwhile when reaping a farmer’s crop. “The best part of farming is reaping,” said Reynold.

Reynold has long retired, and makes few visits to the farm these days. He spends most of his time at his Lancaster home, while his son sometimes tends to the acres of rice. In his years in the community, Reynold says the village remains largely unchanged. He explained that although Lancaster has seen changes, for the most part the village still retains the same look, feel and people with the same way of life, except for a few new additions. “In the years that I have been here, this village has not really changed,” Reynold said.

Living just a few houses away is a fellow farmer named Mark George. The 56-year-old has lived in the community for 17 years. Like countless Guyanese, Mark was led to the village by his family and a house he gained in the community. Seventeen years ago, Mark said that the village did look somewhat different, but it was still as beautiful and welcoming as it is today. “It was nice at that time, and the people were very quiet in the community.”

Having been a part of the community for as long as he has, Mark says that although lovely, Lancaster is not without its issues. For instance, Mark believes that more emphasis should be placed on youth development in the community of Lancaster. “I think we should help with sports and the youths,” Mark shared. As a father of three, Mark explained that there are few employment opportunities for younger folks in the area. Many young people have taken to jobs like masonry, farming or teaching like two of Mark’s children have.

Mark is a rice and cash-crop farmer, a job he has been doing for over 25 years. Like most of the people of the Corentyne, Mark was born and raised there, and continues to live the community.
Mark grew up in Black Bush Polder and has known farmlands since birth. “I actually was born in farming,” he said. “My father was a farmer; he planted rice and cash crops, and I learned from him.”

Sharing sentiments similar to Reynold’s, Mark said that the work it takes to prepare the soil long before anything is planted is the most challenging aspect of the job. “The hard thing about farming is preparing the soil and planting the seeds,” he said. Mark further said that although people may see farming for the money, it is still a challenging occupation that requires time, labour, effort and patience. “Farming calls for hard labour and a lot of investment; you have to spend a lot of money,” he said.

Lancaster is a farming community, but it is so much more. It is a diverse little village, with people of all types all working together. The people of the village have created a strong bond among themselves. Mark says that he and his neighbours have a great relationship; one that is only seen in communities like Lancaster and the countryside of Guyana. And come this Christmas, there is no doubt the village will celebrate as one.