Interviews and photos by Shabna Ullah This week we asked persons in light of the rising food prices and the current grow more campaign if they have a kitchen garden. Here are their responses:
Pamela O’ Donoghue, snackette owner 
`I planted a kitchen garden and I had bora, ochro, callaloo and other vegetables that were helping to support my business. But while I was away from home to run my business the goats broke my fence and destroyed everything. The only items they spared were the green seasoning – thyme and basil. I already fixed the fence back and I have to start all over again. It is better for me to grow my own vegetables because I am able to save a lot. When I have to buy them I am barely left with a small profit. I planted a small kitchen garden all along but I have increased the size now because the prices for food items went up in the shop. I was even forced to increase the prices for my food and I have to hear a lot of comments from customers but I have to reason with them and they understand.’
Pradeep Bachan, businessman/member of West Berbice Chamber 
`I think that with the current food crisis in the world Guyana holds the key for agriculture in the context that we have the land. That is a great advantage because some Caribbean countries do not have that. I also recognize that the `grow more food campaign’ was promoted in the 70s by the late president Forbes Burnham whereby many households began growing a kitchen garden. With the importation of foodstuff many persons abandoned their kitchen gardens… I would like to commend this government in the active role they are playing in encouraging persons to grow more. I have commenced poultry farming which I think is also the way forward for Guyana. I do not intend to plant a kitchen garden but I do encourage others to do so.’
Devika Sukdeo, housewife 
`I have to plant a kitchen garden because my husband just works for a small salary and it is not enough to run the house. The prices in the shops are so high; most of the extra food items I used to buy I cannot buy anymore. I have to make sure I put aside enough money for bills before I get disconnected and I end up paying more unnecessarily. I just have a small place in my yard to plant but I am making good use of it. Right now I have bora, boulanger, pepper, ochro and squash. If I had to buy those vegetables it would have cost me a lot. At least I am able to save on my expenses. I always used to plant my own vegetables.’
James Mc Pherson, pensioner 
`With the rising food prices people have to try and help themselves a little. They can plant a kitchen garden and even rear a few fowls so that they would not have to worry about buying vegetables and eggs. I have pakchoy, bora, boulanger and corilla in my kitchen garden. It is helping out a lot with my expenses because as a pensioner I don’t get that much [money]. Besides I prefer to plant my own vegetables because it is healthier. I don’t spray it much and I don’t use any fertilizer.’
Jagmattie Sahadeo, widow 
`I plant a small kitchen garden to help out with the high cost of living and I have bora, boulanger, tomatoes, cassava and other vegetables right now. The planting is hard work and then I have to get money to invest but I am a widow and I have to try. At least I get enough to eat and I sell some to get a small piece. Without planting it would be hard for me to upkeep myself because the prices in the shop keep rising every time I go. I think the government needs to distribute more pressure tablets and build more mortuaries because this cost of living would kill out people.’
Andrai Adolph, labourer 
‘I normally plant a kitchen garden; the last time I had ochro, bora, boulanger, pumpkin and corilla. But right now I am unable to plant because of the rain. The yard is very soppy but as soon as the rain eases off I would start planting again. The garden is small but I still get enough to eat and share with persons when they come and ask. I don’t sell any vegetables I just ‘free up’ and give it to them because if I want something I can always go and ask my neighbours. Right now all I have in the yard is plantain and banana suckers and coconut trees.’
Shennie Baseo, housewife 
`Food items are very expensive right now. First I used to come in the shop with $10,000 [weekly] and now I cannot get all the items that I need with that amount. Everything is so expensive; last week a bag of rice was selling in the shop for $7,200 and this week the price is $8,000. People have to maintain children and send them to school and it is not easy. Vegetables are very expensive as well and $200 worth in any vegetable is not enough anymore. I started to plant a kitchen garden for home use even before the campaign but now I have to sell a little from it to help to run the house. Right now I have ochro, boulanger, pepper, tomatoes, celery, muskmelon and other fruits.’
Lalta Deokie, Justice of Peace 
`I am not able to plant right now because I do not have the yard space. I definitely would have planted like I used to before if I had the space. But I still have a few ducks and fowls in my yard. I get eggs for myself and I even get to give away as well. I think householders should plant peppers and other vegetables instead of buying them. I find that today people do not want to plant; they do not do anything else for the day to earn extra money. They prefer to go to the market and buy the items so things must get hard. Many housewives depend on the income their husbands bring in but they cannot depend on one source. Growing more food is one way that can help. People have to get going, especially when their homes have five or six children. Relatives from overseas cannot send the barrels from overseas anymore because they need it themselves.’
Latchmin Azeez, CDC Chairperson 
`Obviously the hefty rise in food prices has been a global issue that we should all accept. But we need to make a special effort in our own way to combat its major effects. We should adopt the simple measure of planting a kitchen garden. We all know that by growing and utilizing organic food it is more hygienic and healthier for our personal well being. By simply being active in a kitchen garden – which to me does not require modern farming techniques – would help to relieve stress in our every-day lives. Our soil is rich and natural manure is easily accessible. I think that with basic garden tools we can have the best food produced with our own hands which I think would better satisfy our minds.’
Robert Goring, pensioner 
`Right now I have a lot of fruit trees like papaw and mangoes in my yard. I also have bora, pumpkin and sweet-potatoes and I am trying to get some plantain suckers and eddo plants. With the rising food prices people have to stop being idle and make use of the space in their yards, instead of growing razor grass and ‘busy-busy [type of grass].’ If people help themselves in this way the cost of living would not affect them so much. I am aware that the prices are high because of the rise in fuel prices in the world market. I heard on the BBC news that the fuel price keep going up. It is pretty rough on people especially those who depend on the old age pension alone. Fortunately for me the cost of living is not affecting me that much. Apart from the old age I get pension from NIS and Social Security benefits and of course I get help from my very kind children who send me a small piece sometimes.’
