Danny Samuels showing off two pieces of yam grown on his farm at High Gate Hall in Trelawny.
-George Henry photo
George Henry, Gleaner Writer
SPALDINGS, Clarendon: DANNY SAMUELS, 46, of High Gate Hall in Trelawny, grew up loving farming.
In fact, he engaged in the practice as a career at the age of 18, having learnt the art from his father Stanford.
But only a few years later he switched to tailoring. "I wanted to learn the skill and so I took my training seriously, and before you knew it, I was able to put in pants pockets and do other things that they (the trainers) gave to us as apprentices to do."
However, just over 10 years ago when his tailoring business began to decline with increased competition from overseas, Mr. Samuels decided to return to his 'first love' farming. It was at that time, he said that he realised the value of his knowledge in agriculture.
Currently, he cultivates a variety of crops, including yams, peas, tomatoes, ginger and pumpkins, in addition to rearing pigs.
"If I had only acquired a skill in tailoring I would have had it difficult," he noted.
At the same time, he said his job as a farmer has not been easy, especially given the high cost of feed, inputs and labour.
PROVIDING SUBSIDIES
He suggested that subsidies be provided for small farmers to facilitate continued production, and to attract more young people to the sector.
But despite his many challenges, Mr. Samuels has no intentions of quitting farming.
"If tailoring should bounce back, I would do a lot (of it) but I would not leave farming," he said.
Mr. Samuels is married to Carol, with two daughters:
Jodi-Ann and Shelly-Ann.
