Farmer struggles with dry season and thieves

Agriculture in Trinidad and Tobago faces significant environmental and social challenges during the dry season, as highlighted by the personal experiences of Fyzul Khan in Felicity. This first-person narrative, shared by Candida Khan, explores the dual burden of severe drought and praedial larceny on local farmers.

The article details how the lack of rainfall from December to May leads to desiccated soil and crop failure, compounding the stress of property theft. It provides an intimate look at the transition from a corporate career in health and safety to the physically demanding yet rewarding life of a small-scale farmer.

Readers gain insight into the emotional resilience required to sustain agricultural productivity when external factors such as weather patterns and criminal activity threaten one’s livelihood. The account serves as a testament to the dedication of local food producers and the specific regional difficulties they navigate.

Key Takeaways

The dry season in Trinidad and Tobago leads to severe soil cracking and significant crop loss without adequate irrigation.
Farmers in Felicity face the combined pressures of environmental drought and the theft of crops and essential equipment.
Transitioning from a high-stress corporate role to agriculture can offer significant emotional satisfaction despite the physical hardships.
Manual intervention and community vigilance are necessary when facing the recurring issue of praedial larceny on agricultural lands.
The seasonal weather cycle in the Caribbean dictates planting success and requires farmers to adapt to increasingly harsh conditions.

From corporate safety to Felicity farming: A farmer struggles with dry season and thieves

By Candida Khan. During the struggles of the dry season, all crops usually fight for their lives without water. Some die, others survive. The sun and heat dry out the land making it so cracked that water would just run off the ground.

Now, whenever it rains, Dad is so happy because the plants are happy. He says that there is a block around his land because the rain doesn’t reach to it. So sad.

Added to this, there have been some incidences where thieves come onto the land and steal crops as well as equipment and material. It is a disappointing time when this happens. All the effort, time and money that was put into the land and the crops, all gone to waste.

Dad made a sign and put it in the land saying, “Bring back my equipment and material please!” It has not yet been returned.

Note: In Trinidad and Tobago the rainy season is from June to November and the dry season is from December to May. The dry season is mostly sunny, with occasional light showers. Tourists mostly visit the islands during the dry season.

December 2016 www.sweettntmagazine.com

Sustainable agriculture and systemic hurdles in Trinidad and Tobago

The agricultural sector in Trinidad and Tobago operates within a complex framework of seasonal environmental shifts and socio-economic pressures that determine national food security. Farming on the islands is defined by a distinct bimodal climate consisting of a wet season and a severe dry season, the latter of which frequently leads to soil desiccation and significant crop mortality.

Beyond climatic factors, producers grapple with systemic issues such as praedial larceny, where the theft of crops and livestock undermines the financial viability of small-scale operations. Furthermore, the transition from traditional manual labour to modernised, tech-driven agriculture remains inconsistent due to high overhead costs and land tenure complexities.

This article examines the persistence of local farmers who navigate these obstacles to provide fresh produce to the domestic market. By exploring the intersections of environmental management, security, and economic policy, the text provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of Caribbean food production and the necessary interventions for future sustainability.

Environmental constraints and the seasonal cycle

The primary environmental challenge for farmers in Trinidad and Tobago is the dramatic shift between the rainy and dry seasons. During the dry season, which typically lasts from December through May, the lack of precipitation results in severe soil cracking.

This physical transformation of the land makes it difficult for the soil to absorb water when rain finally occurs, as the hardened surface often leads to rapid runoff rather than deep penetration. Farmers without access to consistent irrigation systems or onsite ponds often face the total loss of seasonal crops such as peppers, tomatoes, and leafy greens.

Conversely, the wet season brings its own set of difficulties, including flash flooding in low-lying areas like the Caroni Plains. Excess water can lead to root rot and the proliferation of fungal diseases, requiring farmers to implement raised beds and efficient drainage systems. The ability to manage these extremes is a defining characteristic of successful agricultural management in the region.

The impact of praedial larceny

Socio-economic challenges are often more difficult to manage than weather patterns, with praedial larceny ranking as a top concern for the agricultural community. This term refers to the theft of agricultural produce and livestock, a crime that has long plagued rural areas in South and Central Trinidad. For a small-scale farmer, the loss of a single night’s harvest can represent the disappearance of several months of investment and labour.

The psychological toll of theft often leads to “farming in fear,” where producers are hesitant to plant high-value crops or invest in expensive equipment that might be stolen. While the government has established specialized agricultural police units, the vast and often isolated nature of farm plots makes consistent monitoring difficult. Farmers frequently resort to living on-site or forming community watch groups to safeguard their property.

Technological adaptation and food security

To combat these challenges, there is an increasing push toward protected agriculture, such as greenhouse farming and hydroponics. These methods allow for year-round production by shielding crops from extreme weather and reducing the need for large-scale land clearing. However, the initial capital required for such systems is often out of reach for traditional farmers who operate on thin margins.

Enhancing food security in Trinidad and Tobago requires a multi-pronged approach that includes:

Improving land tenure security to allow farmers to use land as collateral for loans.
Subsidising irrigation equipment and solar-powered security systems.
Strengthening the legislative framework surrounding the sale of stolen agricultural goods.

The dedication of the local farming population remains the backbone of the country’s fresh food supply. Despite the dual threats of environmental instability and criminal activity, the agricultural sector continues to evolve, seeking new ways to harmonise traditional knowledge with modern resilience strategies.

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Farmers in Felicity

After retiring at 60 years of age, my dad Fyzul Khan shifted gears into the farming industry twisting road of life. He started off small, using hydroponics and planting small plants such as lettuce and tomatoes in the backyard.

Eventually, he branched off and started his own garden. He now grows crops such as pak choi, peas, corn, cucumber, eggplant, tomato and pumpkin. He has always been a hard worker.

He was the manager of a gas company and after having such a stressful lifestyle in health and safety, life as a farmer has brought him much more joy. When crops grow, you can see the pure happiness on his face. He likes to see his hard work pay off.

Tending to crops is not an easy task and there were many times when he wanted to give up. Obstacles include crops drying out, persons stealing produce or the time-consuming and troublesome task of selling the products. In the beginning, it was very difficult to get crops to grow. Every plant that he painstakingly planted was drying out in the heat.

After a while, Dad went to the land more often and eventually worked out a solution by pumping water from a nearby source. With this change and his investment of time and effort on the land, crops started to grow. There was then an abundance of pumpkin.

Selling them was the next tricky part. My mother Deborah Khan was the mastermind behind the sale of the fruits of his labour. The first crops produced were given away to neighbours, friends and families. We are all thankful for the wonderful products of my dad’s hard work.

Never give up. Keep working towards your goals. Hard work will pay off if you just believe!

October 2015 – Issue 18

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