- Damion Mitchell photographAdrian Grant (right) explains the operation of this 'greenhouse', which uses light-emitting diodes. Listening (from left) are John Hall and Vernal Tulloch from the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, Gareth Scott, lecturer, College of Agriculture, Science and Education, Denton Alveranga and Jan-Michael Williams, students.
Damion Mitchell, Farmers Weekly Co-ordinator
STUDENTS ATTENDING a national Youth in Agriculture Symposium in Denbigh, Clarendon, on Thursday, said it was incorrect to assert that the youth were uninterested in pursuing careers in agriculture.
Instead, they said the youth had a greater desire to undertake careers in agribusiness compared to the traditional agricultural practices of rearing animals and cultivating crops.
Jan-Michael Williams, a sixth form student at Clarendon College, said in an interview that given the rapid improvements in technology, agribusiness and agro processing appeared to be more profitable than the cultivation of agricultural produce alone.
Williams, who has studied agricultural science at the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) level, said he would like to become a doctor, but noted that he would continue to contribute to the agricultural sector.
One of his schoolmates, who identified himself as Ralston, said that he, too, was interested agriculture.
However, he said that he would be pursuing a career in electrical engineering. This, he said, would enable him to make more tangible contributions to the sector which he said has been lacking technological advancements in many disciplines.
Earlier, Dr. Donald Rhodd, a State Minister of Education, had said in his address, "Our young people have the capacity to take agriculture and remake it, reshape it and repackage it."
Meanwhile, Shannette Sinclair, a student of the Inswood High School in St. Catherine, told The Gleaner that while technological development was crucial in order to attain a more efficient agricultural sector, there was still the need for more government initiatives aimed at attracting youth to the productive agricultural sector.
OPTIONS
"There are different options in agriculture, so there is more to choose from but they need to do something to get more youths to enter farming," she said.
Adrian Grant, another student, agreed. "I do not think the youth are reshaping agriculture enough," he said. "Most people going to school do not want to be involved in agricultural production, we need to do something to motivate them into it," he noted.
For his part, Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke said that the sustainability of the agricultural sector was largely dependent on youth.
Against this background, he said the Ministry had continued several gardening projects in more than 200 schools islandwide.
The National Youth in Agriculture Programme administered by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority was established in 1990 to enhance youth involvement in agriculture.
