By George Henry,
Gleaner Writer
Vegetable cultivator Stephanie Smith on her farm at Alston, north west Clarendon. - George Henry photo
SPALDINGS, Clarendon:
CALLALOO FARMER, Stephanie Smith, 38, has been involved in agriculture for more than 13 years in Alston, north west Clarendon, and her love for farming has never waned.
"Callaloo keeps my family going. It sends my children to school, I eat food because of it and it is what I produce and sell to make my own house strictly callaloo," she said.
She said that although cultivating 'greens' requires a lot of work, it also provided an opportunity for 'quick cash'. "You have to be constantly weeding and spraying the crop to ensure that fungus doesn't affect it. You have to be a good watchman for this type of crop or else you will lose it in no time," she said. "I also have to water and fertilise it to ensure that it does well."
Fortunately, Mrs. Smith's two-acre farm is located close to a river, providing easy access to water. Mrs. Smith and her husband, Sony, sell the callaloo at the market and she said that sales have been encouraging. She also grows pak choy and sweet yam on a small-scale.
Noting that cultivation takes four weeks, Mrs. Smith said her greatest fear was to have too much rain on her plants. "When there is too much water the crop gets too soft and it causes the plant to wilt," she said.
Mrs. Smith is the parent of three daughters; Fadia, Nashae and Chantal and one son Oshane.
