Mas Alvin encourages youngsters to try farming

'Maas Alvin' of Spring Garden in Trelawny may be old, but he is certainly not out of shape for the farming game.

The elderly man, born Alvin Coldlin, is one of the community's popular figures because although he is 85 years old, he boasts a certain youthful pep in his step and has no plans to quit farming anytime soon.

"I feel as youthful as ever," said Maas Alvin when the Western STAR encountered the old chap as he made his way from his farm.

The elder has been farming since his youthful days and it is the only life he has ever known. He owns a small farm that he gets to by crossing a river that runs through the community, and on which he plants yam and sugar cane, among other crops.

"I have to do it because sometime you don't have no money and nobody around to give you anything. I have one child, but him in America and don't know about the farming life," Maas Alvin outlined.

He, however, has a nephew that helps out the old-timer from time to time.

"Me nuh know why nobody nuh love farming. Money shoulda can make. I build my house out of it although it shoulda build better, but I satisfy," the farmer stated.

His message is for persons, particularly the youth, to try their hands at farming, while advising that sugar cane and bananas, as well as beekeeping, are the secret to success.

"Best thing is beekeeping, [sugar] cane and banana. You will make money and keep you going like me," said Maas Alvin.

"The same cane business yah, if you got your estate and you got your truck, you cut a 10 load and all right. If you cut your cane and you get fertiliser and throw it in there on the farm, you don't have to work until you ready to reap," he added.