Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), James Paul, speaking at the opening ceremony held at Grazettes Community Centre.

Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), James Paul, speaking at the opening ceremony held at Grazettes Community Centre.

Undene Whittaker, Advisor on Poverty Eradication and the Millennium Development Goals.

Undene Whittaker, Advisor on Poverty Eradication and the Millennium Development Goals.

Participants of the Phase 9 of the Youth in Agriculture Programme gathered at the opening ceremony held at Grazettes Community Centre, yesterday.

Participants of the Phase 9 of the Youth in Agriculture Programme gathered at the opening ceremony held at Grazettes Community Centre, yesterday.

Support youth involved in agriculture

CHIEF Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), James Paul, wants to see more support given to those young men and women who partake in the Youth in Agriculture Programme.

He said that the objectives of the programme are absolutely integral to the future success of agriculture in this country. These include: providing food for Barbadians, which is of a high quality and also at affordable prices; creating bonds within the farming community; and developing the skills of co-operation so that the concept of co-operatives may emerge.

Yesterday, Phase 9 of the programme, hosted by the Office of the Advisor on Poverty Eradication and the Millennium Development Goals, got underway at the Grazettes Community Centre, Grazettes, St. Michael.

“Do not belittle the programme; do not misunderstand what it is trying to do... recognise that it is giving life coping skills, which are very important,” he stressed, while acknowledging that the participants, ages 17 to 35, have indicated their interest in becoming employed in the field of agriculture.

He therefore encouraged them to embrace entrepreneurship. “See yourself as an employer or an investor… Very often these programmes offer you the start towards doing so. Recognise the opportunities available through this programme, to be able to develop and use it at the same it to provide yourself with an employment opportunity, which otherwise will not be available to you.

“Also, I try to encourage young people who enter agriculture programmes to continue their education. Today, when you enter the agriculture field, you have to be able to measure, you have to be able to read, and very often these fundamental things we want to ignore are all part of the programme.”

Undene Whittaker, Advisor on Poverty Eradication and the Millennium Development Goals, said the programme ensures that the agriculture sector continues to be replete with skilled and knowledgeable youth, who will carry on the noble industry in Barbados.

She further revealed that apart from the knowledge being imparted by officers from the Ministry of Agriculture, participants will gain significant life skills from experienced counsellors.

“They will utilise every opportunity to ensure that our participants are placed on a growth path that can only redound to their self-development.  A significant section of the Youth in Agriculture Programme speaks to the importance of mentoring the youth in areas such as anger management and conflict resolution.”

Giving insight into the work accomplished by the programme over the years, Whittaker revealed that participants have been harvesting and marketing the short-term crops they have planted. She said that lettuce, eggplant, squash, Chinese cabbage, okras, hot and sweet peppers, have been sold at Carlton & A-One Supermarkets, Popular Supermarket, as well as small farmers and food vendors. In addition, the programme has also become an outlet where students from the Samuel Jackman Polytechnic (SJPP) have been taught skills and techniques in both crop and animal management.

“The participants also travel to both Government and private farms across the island, so as to learn from other aspects of the industry,” she disclosed.

“We must continue to empower the youth in their quest to become the next generation of the nation’s farmers… Greenhouse technologies, hydroponics, aquaponics, horticulture are skill sets which become part of the landscape for these youth. We must seek ways and means of helping them cope with their many challenges. They need our love and support.” (TL)

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