Long Creek ‘quick impact’ sorrel venture takes shape

– 30 acres to be planted

By John Richards

Dr Faith Harding’s Quick Impact Project yesterday started the planting of 30 acres of sorrel in the Long Creek community, which when harvested, will be offered for sale on the local and foreign market.

This is the first time that such a venture would be happening at Long Creek. Farmers there have been separately growing similar crops, but on a small scale. Now, as they come together and allow their combined resources work for them, this venture, it is hoped, will raise the economic level of the community by providing employment and a steady, substantial income.

Mark Benschop plants a sorrel seedling. (Photo by John Richards)

Farmers in the community were organised by January this year and they would have begun sourcing seeds since March, after they became a registered group. Professional advice was sought and the seeds planted. Yesterday at Long Creek, seedlings were dug up and taken to the land prepared for them.

The group of farmers formed a committee and selected Juanita Melville as their chairman. With the assistance of Dr Harding they were able to clear some 30 acres of land for cultivation. An agreement has also been reached that after the sorrel would have matured, the harvesting process would be a community effort. Markets have already been assured and it was revealed that Mexico has agreed to purchase sorrel from the farmers. The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) is also a key player in this venture as it has some plants that will later be transplanted to the sorrel farm for growth.

It is further expected that a poultry farm will be initiated in a month’s time, which will also lend to the development of the community.

Sorrel, under these conditions, are expected to take six months to become ready for harvesting so there will be some crop diversity to supplement their income in the meantime.

Dr Faith Harding carries a seedling from the nursery to the new farm soil. (Photo by John Richards)

According to Dr Harding, it is expected that some 235 persons will directly benefit from this project: 35 farmers working closely with the project and 200 persons who will be employed as a result of the production.

It is estimated that the sorrel can be sold on the international market for nearly $4 a pound and it is expected that the harvest should yield some 16,000 pounds per acre.

The plan is that when a stipend and capital is removed from the returns some of the remaining funds will be placed into a revolving account for social development projects in the community. This aspect of the project will be done in collaboration with the Mark Benschop Foundation, which will work with the youths in the community to support the project through computer training at a skills training centre they hope to establish in the community.

Chairman Melville said she believes that as they put in they will get out and benefit themselves in the long run.

Tony Vieira, who is a certified agronomist, said that the sorrel plant is very hardy and if cultivated well could have a handsome yield. He said he is satisfied that they have started the initiative even though they did not have as many seedlings as needed to fill the 30 acres. He said Dr Harding asked him to come on board because of his knowledge of agriculture and he was more than happy to help out.

Vieira said he will continue to assist and share his knowledge wherever it is necessary. He said the only problem they are likely to encounter would be the eating of crops by the Acoushi ants, which he has spoken to them about and the farmers are already preparing to deal with in the event it becomes necessary.

The residents, more specifically 28 ladies who formed themselves into a co-op, are actually doing self-help with donations from Dr Harding and Vieira among other entities. However, Vieira said they were still hoping to interest one of the international financial institutions.

Tony Vieira presents a spray can to the farmers through the committee chairman Juanita Melville. (Photo by John Richards)

He believes that once financial institutions see the initiative materialize they will come on board. He also stated that because of sorrel’s medicinal value it would not be a problem sourcing markets and as such this venture is a viable one.

After the transplantation process yesterday, a spray can was donated to the farmers to spray the sorrel.

The quick impact project was started last December to give persons an opportunity to be economically viable using the resources they have at their disposal. Dr Harding, in a statement, said that when she visited Long Creek some time back she noticed the vast untouched land space which was owned by people. She also noted that they had no support or assistance to use that land to bring them economic viability.

The project therefore offers them that opportunity and links them with the Ministry of Agriculture and other agricultural agencies and businesses.