Improving Tractor Operating Techniques and Maintenance in Jamaica

In February, the Farmer-to-Farmer program in Jamaica received the last in-person assignments before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic caused a disruption in operations due to travel restrictions. One of the last two in-person assignments in the island country was with Minard Estates, a large cattle breeding operation that specializes in Jamaican beef breeds like Black, Brahman and Red Poll. Minard Estates is run by the Agro-Investment Corporation, an agency under the Ministry of Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries located on 160 acres of an old slave estate in the parish of St. Ann.

They have increasingly found that the effectiveness of their operation has been hampered by the lack of operating tractors and equipment. They wanted to know if the repeated mechanical failures of the tractor were due to the workers’ lack of skills to operate and maintain the equipment, and therefore requested a F2F volunteer to train the staff at Minard Estates in the correct operation of tractors and how to maintain them.

The chosen volunteer for the assignment was Mr. Tom Honigford, who owns a 70-acre organic farm producing mixed vegetables in Vermont. He had previously volunteered for the Farmer-to-Farmer program in Malawi, Myanmar, and Ghana. Mr. Honigford traveled to Jamaica from February 2nd to 16th, 2020, and trained Minard Estates farm managers and staff to ensure they are able to operate and maintain tractors in a safe, sustainable, and efficient manner. 

During the assignment, the volunteer worked with and observed the tractor operators and concluded that they were all perfectly qualified to not only operate but also to do scheduled maintenance on the tractors. He determined that they are skilled enough to be able to train others in tractor operation and maintenance and had been doing their work very well. At the end of his assignment, Mr. Honigford recommended that Minard Estates purchase basic tools like wrenches, screwdrivers, hammers, and pliers to ensure that its staff could carry out the maintenance correctly and on time; and that they evaluate the purchase of a second tractor.

He also commented about the assignment: “I have enjoyed meeting the people of Minard Estates and Brown’s Town. People have been very gracious and friendly, which has made it easy to enjoy such a beautiful area.  Whenever I travel, I am left realizing that every interaction with another person helps to slowly shape me into a better and more aware human being.  Bringing global awareness is critical to the U.S., especially in an era when we as a country seem to be pushing other countries away.  Imposing one’s values on others, without any understanding, can never succeed.”