By Mohanlall Suelall
Someone once said that farming is a family business and that could not have been truer. For the past decades, Kooldeep ‘Uncle John’ Raghoobar has been supported by his family as he tills, irrigates, sows and reaps the products of his hard labour.
The 62-year-old Essequibo Coast native has been in love with farming for his entire life. He knew that farming was what he wanted to do but his farming life has not been without challenges.
Uncle John as he is popularly known to residents said that farming is inside his blood and he loves to see his sacrifice and hard work comes to life. His life in farming began when he was given about 8 acres of maiden land in Hoff Van Aurich on the Essequibo Coast and with hard work and dedication, he transformed a once Jungle into food-bearing trees.
At present, he is reaping plantains, bananas, beans, pepper, ochroes and cassava. However, due to the recent heavy rainfall and poor drainage which caused flooding in the area, he suffered great losses to his watermelon cultivation, pumpkins, corns, bora and squash.
When asked how he is going to deal with the poor drainage system, he said that they are about three other farmers in the area who was also affected by the recent flooding and they plan to meet as a team with the NDC to get some assistance in desilting the drainage canals in the area.
Uncle John employs about 5 persons, including women, to assist in reaping and maintaining the farm.
Uncle John is very much concerned about a few residents who are losing their animals to graze in his farm and destroying his young plants, but he said as a man of God he steers clear of confrontation so he has to live with it.
When asked about markets for his produce he said that due to his good pricing he has very little problem with marketing his produce, he said that he believed in living and let others live too. On the issue of stealing, he said with a smile on his face “they come in the farm to ketch iguana but left with plantains.”
Uncle John is an ideal example to the younger generation who is busy with the modern world and forgetting that all richness comes from the soil. He is encouraging young people to get more involved in farming and producing quality and healthy food so as to maintain a healthy lifestyle and a world free of starvation.
Uncle John is a father of four children, who are all married and living happily with their families. For him, family is important and having a long marriage is essential. He has been married to his wife Sursattie for over 42 years.
He said that the secret of a long and successful marriage is to work hard, but make time for the family and most importantly be a farmer, produce your own food, eat healthy so you can think healthy and live longer.
