GEORGE HENRY PHOTO:
Ephel Sandford picks oranges from his orchard on his farm in Sanguinetti, Clarendon.
George Henry, Gleaner Writer
SPALDINGS, Clarendon:
AT AGE 84, Ephel Sandford is still going strong in agriculture. Today, he produces red peas, yam and citrus on his three-acre property in Sanguinetti, Clarendon.
The veteran farmer told Farmers Weekly that "I have been in farming for most of my life, from a young man coming up." This he said he learned from his father Alfred Sandford, who was an agriculturist. He said his father died when he was very young. But, it did not end there for him as the coaching was continued by his stepfather who was also a farmer.
It did not take long for him to learn the craft. Immediately after leaving school he went into the fields where he started out
planting yam, which he still plants today. But Mr. Sandford did not always work in fields.
WORKED IN ADMINISTRATION
He worked for many years in the area of administration in
several agricultural agencies, including the Jamaica Development Bank and the Agricultural Credit Bank where he worked as a credit officer.
Although farming has been enjoyable, it has not come without challenges. The elderly
gentleman lamented on the high cost of labour and problems with praedial larceny. "The cost of inputs and labour makes farming discouraging these days. I cannot do much of the work on the farm and so I have to get persons to work for me, but I can't seem to find much willing persons to do the work," he related.
The father of seven children believes that agriculture is
fading as a result of the many challenges. Mr. Sandford said there is not much encouragement in agriculture and so many
persons were coming out.
