On a sprawling, 215-acre farm in Bernard Lodge, St Catherine, Bajoo Farm is a drive to be reckoned with in Jamaica’s agricultural scene. The farm’s founder, Sheldon Clunis, is on a mission to develop sufficient peppers and candy peppers to produce most, if not all, of Jamaica — and he is doing it with ardour, perseverance, and loads of onerous work.
“We’re contributing to the island, and when we do not have to import sure produce, it will probably solely do good,” Clunis proudly mentioned. “That’s what we at Bajoo Farm goal for — produce the very best quality product at inexpensive prices, whereas offering employment for dozens of individuals.”
When THE STAR staff visited Bajoo Farms final Friday, it was a scorcher of a day, however that did not gradual the employees down. With crocus luggage stuffed to the brim and palms crimson from freshly picked West Indian peppers, they moved swiftly by way of the fields.
Even Natalee Brown, one of many employees, barely paused as she wiped her face with the identical palms that had simply plucked fiery-hot peppers.
“Though the timber look full, we now have been selecting for weeks. Unno come after we virtually carried out, as a result of is an entire lot we choose already. There’s a market on a regular basis, so we all the time busy,” she mentioned.
Clunis, a seasoned farmer with almost 20 years of expertise, mentioned his love for agriculture began at Guys Hill Excessive College.
“I used to do agricultural science, so we simply switch it to open discipline. I began the pepper farm in 2016, and it has been going effectively since. The soil is nice, and it is simply due to the hurricane harm final 12 months why we not getting the perfect produce now. This discipline may be very wealthy in vitamins, so the crops are good. We additionally do scallion and melon as effectively,” he shared.
From 6:30 a.m. day by day, Clunis and his 35-member staff work tirelessly, however he needs to see extra younger folks within the business.
“We do not see numerous younger folks coming into the sphere. I’m not positive why, however farming takes numerous work and dedication, so the youthful individuals are not gravitating to it. I need to see extra younger folks taking over this position of feeding Jamaica and the world,” he urged.
However farming is not nearly planting and reaping — praedial larceny is a continuing battle.
Armed safety guards patrol Bajoo Farms day by day, as Clunis revealed that thieves goal his Scotch bonnet, candy peppers, and particularly melons.
“We’ve an issue with praedial larceny, however they do not actually bother the crimson pepper as a result of it principally use for decent pepper sauce. However the Scotch bonnet and the candy pepper they’ll steal. Particularly the melon — when the value go up, we now have to rent armed safety to watch the place or the thieves will reap hundreds of {dollars}’ value of issues,” he defined.
Clunis has additionally modernised his farming operation, proving that farming is not nearly getting your palms soiled any extra.
“We’ve computerised gear that makes the job simpler. We’ve machines that assist to water and fertilise, however somebody has to function it. What we do is make use of individuals from abroad to supply programs on methods to deal with these machines,” he shared.
Proper now, candy peppers are promoting at $300 per pound or much less, however Clunis mentioned costs just lately doubled attributable to Hurricane Beryl’s devastation and a extreme drought.
“When there’s a drought, the crops are more durable to take care of, and we now have to pump extra water and provides them extra meals. We’ve to offer extra vitamin to the leaves and extra chemical as a result of throughout the sizzling occasions, mites will assault them. We’ve to spray them usually, in order that takes some huge cash, therefore the rise within the costs,” he defined.
