Youth attracted to agricultural sector
Fri, 04/29/2016 - 12:00am
The viable employment and entrepreneurial opportunities present in the field of agriculture have been attracting more and more young people.
“I have met young people who have already completed University education in various fields even at the Master’s Degree level – in areas such as finance, economics and other natural science who have either already crossed over or are ready to cross over into a career in agriculture,” Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resource Management, Esworth Reid, recently stated.
Addressing the Grow Well! School Gardening Competition Awards Ceremony he revealed that a lot of them are looking for and identifying niches around which to build entrepreneurship – at both the level of
primary production and along the value-added chain.
“So far we have been hearing of young people engaging in the production of soaps and body cleansing creams out of locally grown crops. Some are engaging in the production of new products in the area of herbs and spices and I can tell you that, that sub-sector is growing and expanding,” he indicated.
“I have recently been approached by a young man who said that he is desirous of using the coconut to produce a number of by-products which among other things, include coconut milk and coconut oil. He is also hopeful of experimenting with the production of sugar from the coconut,” he stated.
The Permanent Secretary also observed that a number of young people are coming up with creative ideas of building industries around the agricultural sector, including support services and support equipment to develop and grow the primary sector.
“From the ideas I hear coming forth from some young people, they are really beginning to see the agricultural sector as a potential source of great wealth that just needs tapping into. The fact is, this is what it offers, great wealth.” (TL)