Thirty-one students from nine secondary schools got an opportunity to show off their knowledge of agriculture, when the Youth in Agriculture Farm Programme held its inaugural Youth Farm Market Day at the Princess Margaret Secondary School last Friday.
The programme was organised by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Office in Barbados, in collaboration with the Ministries of Education and Agriculture, and sponsored by the TVET Council.
The eight-week Youth in Agriculture Farm project was developed to give agriculture students in secondary school exposure to training in the best agricultural techniques, and to gain certification in Amenity Horticulture.
The Youth Farm Market Day was open to members of the public, who got the opportunity to observe the students??? hard work by touring the venue and purchasing produce.
IICA Technical Specialist, Roxanne Waithe stated, ???The Youth Farm Market was introduced this year to give the candidates the opportunity to share what they are learning, and to push them to use their communication skills, problem-solving, teamwork, and their technical knowledge.???
Ms Waithe also noted that because the participating students were responsible for conducting tours, they were expected to be able to answer all questions about the work they have done on the farm.
Participation in the Youth in Agriculture Farm programme has doubled over the last two years. In 2012, 15 students participated from three secondary schools.??In this regard, IICA officials expressed gratitude for the support of the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic and the many private and public sector organisations which facilitated the programme???s expansion.
jamal.hall@barbados.gov.bb