Laluni Farmer Calls for More Hands to Meet Growing Demands

GUYANA’S diversity shines the further you move away from the capital city of Georgetown. Laluni is one of the few communities that does a great job of blending their roots and traditional way of life with newer advancements. The best example of this blend is the community’s agriculture. With more than 200 of its estimated 700 people being farmers, agriculture is undeniably the backbone of Laluni.

Farmers like Khemraj Singh, known as Sunil, work alongside each other and community leaders to develop systems tailored to their crops. While machinery is increasingly being adopted in local farming practices, Sunil notes that some tasks still require a human touch, a challenge that he grapples with regularly. With more than 10 acres under cultivation with citrus and peppers, Sunil and other farmers are in need of additional manpower.

The need for human resources and manpower is not the first hurdle that long-time farmer and family man Sunil encountered during his years as a farmer in Laluni. Born and raised in Wales in Region 3, Sunil came to Laluni more than sixteen years ago, where he started a family of his own before seeking work outside the community. He returned just three years ago when his last daughter completed her education, to dedicate his time to agriculture. “I have two daughters and one son. I came back to Laluni when they finished school and I had my granddaughter. I know how to farm and I just decided to come back with my family,” he said. Although agriculture is vibrant in the community, it still does come with a few challenges.

Laluni is known for its cherry farms, with some farmers selling in bulk to companies around Guyana. However, for a community that is largely based in the savannah and lowlands, irrigation is important — and, as Sunil explains, it is even more vital when dealing with cherries. When Sunil began his farm just over three years ago, he started with cherries, like his neighbours. But just a few months into cultivation, amidst Guyana’s rainy season, he learned that while some plants can survive the heavy rain, cherries are uniquely and adversely damaged by rain. “I used to farm more cherries. But when rainy season come, the rain would beat off the cherry. And cherry is a funny thing — if rain falls today, and I cannot pick up cherry today, I can’t pick it at all. So, I changed to more citrus: orange and lime,” he shared.

Sunil still does have some cherry plants, but has scaled down cherry production and has made citrus the farm’s priority. Over the last few years, since Sunil returned to the agricultural sector, he says that there have been some changes. Among the changes he highlighted was the improvement in productivity. Farming, he says, has become easier, thanks to a few simple yet notable improvements. “Farming now is easy; it is going alright. I have my own machinery, so that has made it a lot easier for me,” he said. The community council of Laluni has also been working to support farmers, providing them with equipment and fertilisers.

Getting crops to the market, however, is entirely left up to the farmers. Sunil is among the few farmers in Laluni who sell their produce in bulk to local Guyanese sellers and distributors. As he explained, it eliminates the need for him to constantly travel and also ensures that his crops are sold while still fresh, thereby securing the best price for the best quality. “I sell my crops to someone that comes right here in Laluni. I have pepper, sorrel, and I have pumpkin in the savannah, and he comes right here and buys all so I do not have to go to the market,” he shared. Although he has found a farm-to-market solution that works for him, Sunil is still working on finding more people to help support the farm.

Most of Laluni’s farms are family-owned, and most of Laluni’s younger farmers have been in agriculture all their lives. Today, many of the community’s young people have begun to get more involved with sectors outside of agriculture. This has created a unique challenge for Sunil and his fellow farmers — getting more people interested and involved in farming. “Workers is one of the biggest challenges for me right now. For the people in Laluni, it’s either they have their own farm, or they don’t farm. So getting people to help plant and reap and so on is hard,” he shared.

While Sunil and others continue to advocate for more involvement in agriculture — one of Guyana’s fastest-growing sectors — Laluni, as a community, is playing its part. In addition to support from neighbours and family members, the village leaders collaborate with farmers and various organisations to facilitate access to equipment, funding, and vital resources. Despite the challenges, Sunil remains optimistic about the future. When asked to sum up his experience with farming in Laluni, he replied simply and sincerely: “Farming is nice.”