Agro-Wisdom from Emmanuel Missick of Green Acres Farm

(Excerpt from his presentation during Agro-Grant Approvals Ceremony held at the Office of the Premier, Providenciales on Tuesday March 15, 2022)

#TurksandCaicos, March 18, 2022 – “Everybody in the world lives off the ground, everything, this body of mine comes from the ground, going back to the ground, but to keep it alive it comes from the ground.

Thanks for the interest you and your government is showing in farming.

Welcome to those who are just getting involved; Courtney and I caught hell, he started a little before me, that is why I pointed to you to be first because you are nearer to the port than I am also.

It takes money to buy land, and it takes money, more money to farm the land you buy.

I bought over 70 acres in North Caicos; I still own it, it takes money to farm that. And I welcome all of you trying to get more.

Special congratulations to every Minister of your Government who is backing you in this thing called farming because we need this.

We are going to do it, I am ready to do it because at almost 89, for me to be here, you know I got to be serious.

But this is the third generation (Diondré Rolle, Elder Missick pointing to his grandson, in attendance) of my Missick family, I am working land that I am on – seven generations, that’s where he is coming from. Support him when I am gone.

By the way, Mrs Connolly, (TCI Minister of Tourism) continue, because this can only go if you are persistent in finding wherever you can get the ground from and I am certain, there are thousands that will be ready to assist you and this government with grounds to do farming in this country because starting late but now is a good time to start. And that God, you are starting so run it successfully.

If I am not here, you know where to put the credit.

And to this government (because I have had trouble finding the other Ministers of the former administration; some won’t even talk to me, I won’t call no name) But you are here, keep what you got and keep who is serious about farming, because you have to live and you’re going to be here – all of you, long after I am gone.

I ain’t trying to shorten my time, I have an uncle that will be 109 years old a few months from now, living in the Bahamas. He is 20-years ahead of me, so I might be around for a good while then. I hope I will be to see the success, everyone at this table presently has been doing.

I don’t know if I have mentioned to you, in particular before, it takes heavy equipment to till the land and depending on the acreage you’re farming, and you are looking at something big.

By the way, catch the vision of where you’re going because where is no vision…. This is vision, catch the vision.

And for this to succeed and go forward into the future, you need to keep the vision. Don’t think small, think big.

Work with us and we will make your government and ministry great in this country. God bless you.

Elder Emmanuel Missick,

Founder of Green Acres Farm, North Caicos

Transcribed by Shanieka Smith, Magnetic Media