Ailing farmer refuses to quit - Man fights to keep farm going from hospital bed

For 64-year-old farmer Albert Faulknor, agriculture is not just a livelihood, it is a calling that continues to anchor him, even from a hospital bed.

Though currently admitted, Faulknor remains mentally rooted in the soil he has spent decades cultivating in Red Bank, St Elizabeth. His days are punctuated by constant check-ins with his farm, driven by a passion he says refuses to fade.

"Mi have to check in man, because me really love it," shared Faulknor.

He maintains regular contact with his workers and his wife, Santie, who has been managing operations on the ground.

But while his commitment has never wavered, the same cannot be said for the market. His crops have not been lost to neglect, but to dwindling demand--an issue that has left him and countless farmers across the island counting heavy losses.

The veteran farmer recalled enduring a major setback just months ago when Hurricane Melissa tore through western Jamaica, leaving widespread destruction in its wake.

"Di hurricane mash up everybody," he said, reflecting on the October 2025 disaster. The World Bank estimated that the physical damage to Jamaica caused by Hurricane Melissa totals US$8.8 billion or approximately J$1.36 trillion.

The government estimated the loss to the agriculture sector at approximately $29.5 billion.

Determined to recover from the storm, Faulknor pushed forward with renewed ambition, expanding his production in hopes of boosting his earnings.

"Mi say alright, I am going to go big and even see if I can get more income," he said.

Instead, his efforts have so far been met with disappointment. A promising cauliflower crop has largely gone unsold, with market demand failing to materialise.

"Mi plant it every while, but the market slow and nah move," he lamented.

According to Faulknor, the downturn is linked to reduced activity in the tourism sector. Hotels, once a reliable market for farmers, have not fully recovered since the hurricane, leaving produce without buyers.

While his fields struggle, Faulknor is also battling health challenges. Still, even as he recovers, his focus has not shifted.

"Right now, I am thinking about the farm," he told THE STAR. "Mi a prepare the land, but mi have some carrot a reap. That is a next disaster because dem nah sell, and them just stay deh and grow big," he said.

His wife Santie confirmed that the family has taken significant financial hits across multiple crops, including carrots, cauliflower, and sweet peppers. Even emerging crops offer little comfort amid falling prices.

"Mi see the scallion coming in but that's a no no, because prices gone down so we really lose a lot of money," she said.

Though discouraged, she acknowledged her husband's relentless drive.

"Him nah give up. Him love farming bad. Even when things rough, him keep trying," she said.

After nearly four decades together, her concern now extends beyond the farm to his well-being and is looking forward to his release from hospital.

"I want him to come out," she said.