BAS to further spark students’ interest in agriculture

Encouraged by the interest shown by students to its 2018 Schools’ Culinary and Garden Competitions, the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) will be working with local schools ahead of next year’s edition of Agrofest, to spark more interest in agriculture.

CEO of the BAS, James Paul acknowledged the above, as he delivered remarks at the BAS’ Prize Giving Function for schools, which successfully took part in the Agrofest 2018 Schools’ Culinary and Garden Competitions. The Prize Giving Function was held yesterday at BAS Headquarters, “The Grotto”, Beckles Road, St. Michael.

“Before Agrofest, we visit no less than about 30 primary and secondary schools on an annual basis. What we try to do is go around and talk to [students at] the schools and encourage them. The
enthusiasm that I see among the kids – I am one of those people that continue to feel that young people are very interested in agriculture. When we talk to the younger people, they are very interested and they want to get involved,” Paul remarked.

“We think that if we can encourage more young people to be involved in agriculture, it helps the nation as a whole. So as an off-shoot of what is happening this year, one of the things that we are going to do, is that in the lead up to Agrofest next year, we are going to try to reach out to the teachers in the schools who we visited last year. We are going to have some follow-up with them, to see if we can get them to do a seminar prior to the whole competition, to actually give them assistance in helping them to come up with ideas as to how they can actually participate more, when we get to Agrofest next year,” Paul revealed.

Paul also noted that the schools who have been successful in the competition will be encouraged to mentor other schools with an interest and more private sector partners will be invited to come on board, to further expand and expand the two competitions.

Those present to accept prizes for the African Heritage Month Schools Culinary Competition were: Jada Bynoe and Allissa Hurdle of the Springer Memorial Secondary School who won 1st prize for Preserves/Confectionery and 1st in Savoury Dishes respectively; Desiree Hampden of the Derrick Smith Secondary School who won 3rd place for Preserves/Confectionery and 2nd in Beverages; Jephan Yard of the Lodge School who earned 3rd place in Bread & Cakes and 1st place in Beverages. Prize winners for Harrison College, Coleridge and Parry and St. George Secondary were not present.

In the Schools Garden Competition, Gordon Walters took first place and students Shadayne Greenidge-Callender and Janea Callender collected the prize whilst 3rd place went to Ellerton Primary, represented by Sherrol Warner, Lead Teacher for the 4H group. 2nd place winners Coleridge and Parry were not present.

A Home Garden prize was also issued that morning to Mr. Harley Pollard. (RSM)