作者： admin

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Kayanne Cole’s transition from financial advisor to farmer defies both gender norms and personal expectations. At 42, this Jamaican mother of two had zero agricultural experience—she couldn’t wield a machete, clear land, or plant crops when she first contemplated farming during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.

Her journey began after visiting a client’s farm, where the cultivation process sparked an unexpected passion. ‘I saw his location, I saw his cultivation, and it spoke to me,’ Cole recalls. What started as potential investment curiosity evolved into hands-on operation by 2023, with Cole managing over five acres in Murphy Hill, St Ann while maintaining her full-time career and parenting responsibilities.

Under mentor guidance, she mastered land preparation and crop management, embracing agriculture’s inherent patience. ‘Farming teaches patience. You put a seed in the soil, and you wait. It doesn’t happen overnight,’ she reflects.

Cole confronts gender stereotypes in the male-dominated sector head-on. ‘Some people believe women only come to reap or harvest. They don’t expect you to be involved in planting or to be the backbone of the operation,’ she notes. Determined to be taken seriously, her days begin at 4:30 AM with weather checks, crew coordination, and task management before school preparations and her primary job.

Her commitment extends to family integration—Sundays are sacred ‘farm days’ where her children participate in planting, field activities, and on-site meals. ‘I don’t want my children to feel like mommy is always too busy. I want them to be part of what I’m building,’ Cole emphasizes.

The enterprise faced severe adversity when Hurricane Melissa devastated her Scotch bonnet pepper crop in October 2023. ‘I was nervous and scared—not just for my home but for the farm,’ she admits. The storm forced rebuilding efforts, with Cole currently replanting cabbage and Irish potatoes while gradually clearing damaged sections.

Despite setbacks, her vision expands beyond local markets to supplying north coast hotels and exploring export opportunities. Cole aims to acquire machinery, expand acreage, and establish core crops within five years while creating employment opportunities.

Her story represents more than supplemental income—it’s about ‘purpose, independence, food security, and legacy for my children and my children’s children.’ Cole hopes to inspire other women: ‘You can be feminine, confident and still be farmer. Those things don’t cancel each other out.’

Support exists for farmers like Cole through Jamaica’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, which implemented a two-year recovery plan post-Melissa. The initiative provides replanting assistance, infrastructure rehabilitation, and training through the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA). Female farmers additionally receive specialized training in financial literacy, climate-smart practices, and mental health through the Jamaica Network of Rural Women Producers.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Rotary International’s District 7020 is poised to host its annual conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel from April 27 to May 2, gathering hundreds of members from across the northern Caribbean. This year’s assembly carries the urgent theme “Unite for Good,” reflecting the organization’s commitment to addressing escalating regional challenges through collective action.

Professor William ‘Bill’ Aiken, District Governor for 2025-2026, emphasized the critical need for strengthened response capabilities in the face of growing threats. “The challenges of the modern world are growing in scale and impact,” Aiken stated, “and our clubs must grow equally in strength to support communities and their people to become resilient and to thrive.”

The conference comes as the region confronts dual crises: increasingly frequent category-five hurricanes and persistently high rates of cardiovascular disease. Aiken cited Hurricane Melissa’s impact on Jamaica last year, following closely after Hurricane Beryl’s category-four encounter, and the devastating 2019 Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas as examples of the “brutal realities” requiring enhanced preparedness.

Rotary’s strategic response encompasses seven key areas: peacebuilding and conflict prevention, disease prevention, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, water sanitation and hygiene, community economic development, and environmental protection. The district governor stressed that effective work in these domains demands “not just more diligence on the part of our members, but deliberate capacity building.”

The gathering will feature addresses from prominent Rotary dignitaries including Rotary International President-nominee Larry Lunsford, past RI president Barry Rassin (2018-2019), RI Director Patrick Eakes, and past RI director Jeremy Hurst. In a significant departure from tradition, the opening ceremony on Thursday, April 30 will be held at Emancipation Park, intentionally bringing the conference into the public domain.

“We want the public and Jamaicans at large to come see and understand what Rotary means to Jamaica and the region,” Aiken explained, extending an invitation to corporate Jamaica and other interested parties to participate.

District 7020 encompasses 91 Rotary clubs and 46 Rotaract Clubs across 10 northern Caribbean territories including Anguilla, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, French West Indies, Haiti, Jamaica, Sint Maarten, Turks and Caicos, and the US Virgin Islands. The conference aims to forge partnerships, provide upskilling opportunities, and inspire incoming presidents and secretaries to create lasting impact in their communities.