Follow A Farmer – Marcus Sewell

2019-10-23 In Follow A Farmer - Marcus Sewell By Admin

Follow a Farmer Marcus Sewell Update

Update: October 2019

We’re pleased to congratulate Marcus on winning the JN Small Business Loans Start Up Kick Start Competition to launch an alternative agriculture enterprise, including aquaponics and vertical farming, to raise microgreens. Marcus developed the concept for Brunswick Farms Limited as a participant in INMED Caribbean’s Increasing Access to Climate-Smart Agriculture program, which includes intensive business planning and coaching.

“I pitched the concept to seven panel judges,” explains Marcus. “I took them through the concept and how I would scale the micro-business into a full-grown company that would do an IPO on the Jamaica Stock Exchange.” His plan impressed the judges enough to award him JMD100,000 in seed funding.… Read the rest...

2019-02-10 In Follow A Farmer - Marcus Sewell By Admin

Follow A Farmer – Marcus Sewell February 2019 Update

Update February 2019:

IACA’s first agri-entrepreneur, Marcus has parlayed INMED’s IACA technical and business training into a business plan, which he has used to apply for financing. His commercial aquaponics system is already producing!

Marcus’ system is composed of 5 half-55-gallon drums used for gravel beds seated on 2 x 14 treated wood frame. A-250 gallon IBC tank is used as the fish tank, connected to a filtration system consisting of 20-gallon (black) drums, with a swirl filter and pipe leading to a 15-gallon (blue) drum, which serves as the biofilter. From the biofilter drum, a 3/4-inch PVC pipe is connected to the 5 grow beds.… Read the rest...

2018-11-27 In Follow A Farmer - Marcus Sewell By Admin

Follow a Farmer – Marcus Sewell September 2018 Update

Update September 2018:

Marcus Sewell is a 33-year-old emerging aquaponics farmer in Spanish Town, St. Catherine in Jamaica. He became interested in aquaponics two years ago when he was surfing YouTube and came across a how-to video on building a home system. It sparked his interest, so he decided to design a system that would feed his family and provide high-quality produce to sell to his community.

Since enrolling in INMED’s Increasing Access to Climate-Smart Agriculture in March 2018, Marcus has received online and hands-on technical training as well as business training and mentoring. He is expanding his home system and is working diligently to launch his own agri-business.… Read the rest...