Mervin Thomas

Spanish Town, St. Catherine:

Although farming is becoming more technologically advanced, there are some persons like Mervin Thomas, a small farmer who still uses his fork and hoe.

A sprightly 61-year-old from Tetford district in St. Catherine, Mr. Thomas who farms a half-acre plot of land said cassava was his best cash crop to date. He showed Farmers Weekly a very large root of cassava with several tubers weighing about 75 pounds.

"There are bigger ones in the field I would hope, but this one is nice, and it really encourage you to see how your labour pays off," he boasted.

Mr. Thomas who recently retired, supplements his pension by growing, apart from cassava, okra, callaloo, potato and other ground provisions.

However, cassava is king and has a very attractive price, which ranges from $25 per pound upwards. Its export potential also makes it an ideal crop to grow.

Andrew Carty, RADA's parish manager for St. Catherine, said cassava production was being revitalised. In a recent interview with Farmers Weekly, he said that great emphasis would be placed on small farmers in and around St Catherine to help them reap even more success from cassava production.

- Rasbert Turner