Farm Chicks With Debbie and Becky returns with an exciting Second Season
Published:Friday | April 29, 2022 | 8:35 AMKrysta Anderson/Staff Reporter
Two sisters, planted in passion and purpose, continue on their mission to promote the importance and relevance of agriculture across the island. Farm Chicks with Debbie and Becky is back for a second season and is promising to be even more adventurous than before.
“We’re pretty excited about the second season coming back; a little anxious, a little nervous because the first season was very good, but then a series of tragedies struck,” Debbie Bissoon told Living. The tragedies she is referring to are the passing of their father and also her editor's father simultaneously.
The dynamic duo decided to move forward, in honour of their farming hero. “This was a dream for our father to be able to do something meaningful with his sector, so we’re happy that it is coming back on stream,” she added.
This season seeks to elevate the nature of the industry by highlighting technology in farming, an aspect of agriculture recognised worldwide. With the lasting impact of climate change, food security, and the country’s ability to sustain itself beyond the season and beyond, things like war set to threaten the very livelihood of our nation, that’s where advanced mechanics come into play.
Paying closer attention to technology in farming, the team is exploring hydroponics this year, the process of growing plants without the use of soil. According to Bissoon, there is a big push in agriculture to preserve soil. And even though the people of the island have grown up knowing farming as rooted in the soil, the exploration of growing organically and growing healthily is widening its net for protection purposes.
“We visited a farmer located past Bog Walk who has a farm set up called Bella’s Farm, named after his young daughter. He has an operation that he ‘mans’ through a computer; he can be anywhere in the world, it is up and running without him having to be present,” she shared, adding, “He has three people employed to the farm and all they do is ensure that things like pruning take place. In terms of water supply, the organic fertiliser to go inside the water stream, lighting, and temperature of the room are all done remotely.”
SELF-SUFFICIENT SETUP
The sisters, who grew up on a farm-to-table lifestyle, decided to start the season in Clarendon, where they are from, with KB Farm. The poultry farm has a similar self-sufficient set-up to Bella’s in that it is machine operated. The feeding and water supply is done by computerised software, and a team of five maintains the minor aspects, just to see that everything is running smoothly.
Gaining sponsors who are willing to jump on board this initiative hasn’t been easy. But the team is eternally grateful for the return of Digicel Foundation, H&L Agro, and Volkswagen, whose support has been nothing short of amazing.
The media personality maintains that for many years, the perception of agriculture is something dirty, grungy, and messy, deterring others from the cool factor of sustainable financial benefits. Persons have gone on to export produce, some having little to no background in agriculture, leaning on to the understanding from YouTube University.
Traditional farming will still be featured on the show to present a diversified programme that everyone can enjoy. And issues like praedial larceny that plagued the local agricultural sector will be mainstay discussion, as far as challenges go.
On the matter of diversity, the blend and variety in personalities play out seamlessly on and off camera as these sisters, who are also mothers, team up to create a more organic world for their children to grow up in. They don’t always see eye to eye and that makes for a spirited exchange, but watching them unite through a shared love and interest for agriculture is truly powerful to witness on-screen. And of course, in true farming fashion, expect the pair to dig up some dirt on conventional and modernised agricultural approaches in denim chic trends.
“We’re happy to be able to show that there’s a possibility for improvement in farming using technology. We’re thrilled to be showing people who are administering it and doing well with it. And we want to continue inspiring young people, especially young women, to get involved with agriculture,” she added.
The first show of the second season debuts this Sunday at 4 p.m. on TVJ and will air each Sunday thereafter at 4:30 p.m.