George Henry, Gleaner Writer
Elton Thompson on his farm in Munroe St. Elizabeth.
MALVERN, St. Elizabeth:
BECOMING AN independent and ambitious young man 30 years ago was important for Elton Thompson and with a family to feed and bills to pay, he decided to start his own farm.
"I seriously love farming because I have been able to see my way out over the thirty years from it without having to go to anyone to ask for things. It has made me what I am today," said Mr. Thompson proudly.
The lanky farmer told Farmers Weekly that farming is now like 'cancer' in his bones. He said farming makes him feel good. Mr. Thompson noted that he had no difficulty sourcing markets for his many crops, but admitted that he has to give away some of his produce whenever there is a glut. The veteran farmer, who plants carrot, cabbage, tomato, sweet pepper and gungo peas, said the perennial problem with drought and the high price of inputs such as fertilisers and chemicals were also affecting his production.
EXPENSIVE MATERIALS
"The things we need to improve on the quality of our crops are too expensive and the powers that be need to do something for us the small farmers. Sometimes I would like to buy a large quantity of fertiliser but because of the price I have to cut back," the farmer lamented. "When I just started farming in my young days, I could buy over fifty bags. I cannot do that again because of the price," Mr. Thompson lamented further.
