- George Henry photo
Beresford Anderson setting up an insect trap on his coffee tree in Bethsalem, St. Elizabeth.
George Henry, Gleaner Writer
MALVERN, St. Elizabeth:
BERESFORD ANDERSON, 79, of Bethsalem in North East St. Elizabeth, began producing coffee, plantains and pimento on a 15-acre property just over 12 years ago having abandoned his sound system business because revenue inflows had almost slowed to a trickle.
And since then, Anderson, described by a Coffee Industry Board official as a "model farmer", has only been rocking to the rhythms of his success.
He told Farmers Weekly that he began coffee farming with only twenty seedlings, but over time he multiplied this number to more than ten thousand seedlings on five acres.
And now, he basks in the glory of being among the island's best farmers with hundreds of lush coffee plants producing overwhelming yields. "A me one plant everything. Nobody nuh help me," said Beresford Anderson, smiling. This, he said, significantly reduced labour costs, as he only employed persons to assist him during reaping periods.
"I am here every day and all the time I find something to do. I like when my farm is in immaculate condition," he said.
PROVIDE REVENUES
He noted that although coffee was his priority crop, he appreciated the other crops he cultivated, especially given that they provide revenues between coffee harvests.
Mr. Anderson currently produces 900 boxes of berries annually with an average 85 boxes per acre. However, he is expecting to produce more than 1000 boxes this year.
But notwithstanding the fact that Mr. Anderson has been a successful farmer, there have been difficulties. "If the cost of fertilisers and other inputs were not so very expensive, I would have been able to produce more," he said.
Glenroy Griffiths, central regional manager of the Coffee Industry Board, was on the farm with Mr. Anderson when Farmers Weekly visited this top class farmer.
"He is a model farmer," said Mr. Griffiths, noting that he was very impressed with Mr. Anderson's success in coffee production.
A humorous Beresford Anderson, noted his relationship with his plants. "If me see them nuh look so good me say, boy, you need some more fertilizer, and them talk back to me too by putting plenty money in my pocket", he said.
Mr. Anderson is the father of four children: Pallo, Carol, Dell and Nadine.
