CARLINGTON WILMOT, Youth WriterNot many young people today are interested in adding farming to their list of activities -- not even those who are in the heart of the soil of rural Jamaica. But if Anthony Carnegie has his way local bananas, yams and vegetables will still be available at the markets in the future.
On any given weekday the 15-year-old from Topper Hill, Rock Hall, St Andrew, first attends the Bethel Education Centre between 8:00 a.m. and noon after which he goes home, disposes of his uniform and slips into his farming gear.
"When I come home from school I go to work and work from noon until 4:30 p.m.," Anthony said. "I don't have anything else to do with my time and instead of sitting down on the street and idling, why not use the time better to learn about farming?"
One of the things he likes about working at Rock Mountain Herbs and Vegetable Farm is having the chance to work with some real great farmers in Jamaica, he told Youth Link.
However, farming is not the only thought on his mind as he also wants to feel out becoming an electrician. Anthony then quickly noted: "It's not a matter of me giving up on farming, but at the rate how this country is running now, it's impossible to survive on a single job."
Anthony explained how he got interested in farming. "I came home from school one day and I realised there was nothing at home for me to do. So, I went up by Rock Mountain Herbs and Vegetable Farm and asked my friend Tatty if I could get a work up here after school and his answer was yes."
He urges young people in Jamaica to take an interest in farming because it plays a significant role in our lives.
"I think more youth should get into farming, and stop wasting time on the road, when you can go and learn something that will help you through life," he added.
