... ‘I would not continue to farm if it were not for JNSBL’
TO ASSIST him in dealing with the rains and the occasional dry weather, which has damaged his crops, Randy Finnikin turned to JN Small Business Loans after he heard a presentation from the loan company at a Farmers’ Cooperative meeting, which highlighted the JNBSL Climate Smart Loan product.
“Farming is capital-intensive. If it were not for JNSBL, I would not continue to farm today,” he said, adding that the process of accessing funding was smooth.
“The loan assisted me to purchase more than 10,000 feet of hose to install drip irrigation, and to purchase other equipment so that I could dig trenches to offset the problem of flooding.”
Gillian Hyde, general manager of JNSBL, in assessing Finnikin’s journey to combat climate change, explained that the loan company was serious about assisting farmers and members of the micro, small and medium enterprise sector to mitigate the effects of climate change.
“M r Finnik in’s experience with flooding sheds light on how climate change has been affecting many farmers,” Hyde said.
“That is why we have been working hand in hand with our agricultural clients to ensure that they not only understand, but also i mplement strategies to address this phenomenon. And, we remain committed to assisting Jamaicans as they work to minimise the impac t of climate change on their agricultural production.”
The general manager commended Finnikin, who was ready to take on the climate challenge and is using ‘best practices’ to combat its effect on his cultivation.
“I love farming,” Finnikin declared. “For me, it is the equivalent of going to Hellshire Beach to relax,” Finnikin said, adding that “farming is no longer just about fork and hoe. It now involves research and awareness about scientific processes. More farmers need to adopt the best approaches if agriculture is to remain viable.”