Winners of the Agrofest 2014 Primary Schools competitions were presented with their prizes on Wednesday, July 9, at the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) ???The Grotto??? Beckles Road.

Students from primary schools??? across the island had the opportunity to participate in the Eastern Caribbean Fertilizer Schools Garden Competition, the Junior Achievement Poster Competition, the Junior Achievement Oral Competition and the Junior Achievement Essay Competition.

West Terrance Primary took first place in the Eastern Caribbean Fertilizer Schools Garden Competition, while second place went to Gordon Walters Primary and third place to the St. Philip Primary.

Kamara Sargeant, Rynell Weeks and Keshauna Beckles, all students of the St. Catherine Primary School took the first, second and third place respectively in the Junior Achievement Poster Competition.

The Students from the Gordon Walters Primary also took the top prizes in the Junior Achievement Oral Competition. First place was awarded to Lael Charles, while second and third place went to Nasean Belgrave and Teara Arthur.

In the Junior Achievement Essay Competition, all of the prizes were awarded to the Eagle Hall Primary with Sopfina Maloney, Fandana Thorpe and Joshya Jones took first, second and third prize.

Speaking at the event, Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), James Paul, said that the future of the agricultural sector in Barbados would only be secure if more young people became involved.

He told the prize winners that it was important for them to see themselves as important to the sector.

???If we are to ensure that Agriculture continues in Barbados ??? that the future of agriculture in Barbados is secure??? you have to see yourself as a stake holder in Barbados, and we can develop programmes to help you improve your skills ??? we think that you are very important to agriculture,??? he added.

Mr. Paul believes that the competitions will help young people to learn more about agriculture in ???their formative years???, as it gives the opportunity to think about how they can contribute to the sector from early.

He thanked the teachers and the principals of the schools for allowing their students to be a part of the competition stating that without their assistance, the students??? ideas may have never been implemented, he also encouraged other schools to become more involved in the agricultural sector.

aisha.reid@barbados.gov.bb

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