The East Bank Berbice corridor is dotted with farmers who ply their trade with a sense of purpose, cognizant of the fact that while farming can be a profitable pursuit, you get out of it only as much as you put into it. For the persistent, there are promising signs and there is evidence that some of those who had given up on the pursuit are returning to the land.
The strip is still sparsely populated and it is fraught with the kinds of challenges that make farming difficult. The road is in bad shape and electricity and water are lacking. The situation provides ample evidence of just how much still needs to be done.
Germania is part of the strip; it is located 25 miles outside of New Amsterdam and that is where James Mohammed Ali or ‘Chassi’ as he is known, does his farming. He has spent his entire 70-odd years in the same place. These days, he spends his time in an odd sort of semi-retirement, catching up on old news (the newspapers arrive here the day after) and babysitting his grandchildren. He has lots of time to talk about the history of the community.
