New onion farmer scores big with first crop

A first-time onion grower — backed by new post-harvest infrastructure — has scored an early food security win with a first crop that points to reduced imports and new regional export potential.

Shamon O’Garro, owner of Greenhill Family Farms, St Lucy, operating on just under an acre of land, has yielded impressive results despite unpredictable conditions and several first-year hurdles.

Domestic onion production is supported by the introduction of a new facility at the state-owned Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC) in Christ Church. The facility aims to solve critical post-harvest issues that have long plagued growers.

“My introduction to onion farming has been nothing short of excellence,” O’Garro said. “It came out pretty well, to be honest, having the conditions that I would have gone through throughout the process, such as the onions being planted a little too thick [and] shortages of fertilisers. But we did pretty well for the first start of this year.”

O’Garro’s entry into farming was inspired by a desire to contribute to the economy, heavily influenced by a veteran neighbour in the farming community, he said.

“My neighbour, a guy who I look up to… has been doing onions for multiple years,” O’Garro said. “Just seeing the success that he would have gained and the respect that he would have gained throughout the farming community and the market community — it drove me to want to be a part of that, and to grow onions for Barbados.”

When asked about the biggest takeaway from his inaugural four-month crop cycle, O’Garro emphasised the mental grit required for the trade.

“Patience. Patience, nothing but patience. Also, you gotta remain committed,” he noted. “A lot of things can happen throughout the four months of your onion crop. So you got to remain patient.”

For O’Garro, the BADMC centre offers peace of mind regarding crop security and spoilage.

“One of my fears growing the onions was leaving them out in the field — let’s say we get some crop theft. Now, having this facility here, I don’t have to worry about crop theft,” O’Garro said. “I could just bring my onions, drop them off, and have them cured in a proper manner.”

The long-term vision for the facility extends beyond simple storage. It is expected to create a more reliable pipeline for produce, ultimately reducing the island’s reliance on imports.

“It’s going to lessen the spoilage of onions post-harvest. It’s gonna also get farmers to be more consistent supplying local supermarkets and, by extension, it could be even regional markets,” O’Garro added.

Looking to the future, O’Garro is already planning his next cycle and urging other growers to capitalise on the new infrastructure.

“I want to tell you guys to get involved. It’s very promising,” O’Garro urged fellow farmers. “Upon my next harvest… I will be first in line to come and be a part of the new facility here in Christ Church.”