Dominican youth met on Wednesday at the Roseau Fisheries Complex Conference room to discuss and strategize a way forward for the development of the regions’ agriculture and to give recommendations to the Caribbean Agricultural Policy (CAP).
CARICOM is charged with the responsibility of formulating and preparing the Caribbean Agricultural Policy and part of that process involves the engagement of a wide cross section of stakeholders including youth.
The Caribbean Farmers Network, CaFAN, which is a regional umbrella organization for national farmer organizations across thirteen Caribbean countries, was given the mandate to facilitate discussions with young people in CARICOM countries under the pillar dubbed “youth and rural modernization”.
Wednesday’s consultation is part of CaFAN’s overall agricultural development strategy to get more young people involved in the sector and to build agriculture as a viable sustainable business.
Dominica’s Director of Agriculture, Ricky Brumant, in addressing the opening of the consultation, said youth presents the bedrock for agricultural sustainability and it’s important that their input is sought.
He noted that “Agriculture and its succession, its sustainability and its future, are dependent on youth”.
“I believe we must set the stage for youth to take action, for youth to participate and for youth to belong and work,” he urged.
The Director of Agriculture strongly believes that policy makers should not make plans for youth without their active participation as he believes that “involving the youth on policy issues is relevant”.
“We will involve youth along the chain from the seed to the plate but before that, we will engage them and ensure that they have the technical information that will carry them through,” he stated.
Brumant said it is important that “we banish the notion that youth cannot take their rightful place in society and in the chain of Agricultural production” and pointed out that’s it’s important that youth present themselves across the table in the discussions and negotiations about agriculture.
Dr. Nadia Pacquette-Anselm, the main facilitator at the consultation, said it will take the form of panel discussions.
“These discussions will focus on Youth business, Entrepreneurship, opportunities for Youth in Agriculture, Leadership and Advocacy, Agriculture and Schools”.
Dr. Pacquette- Anselm said recommendations by the youth from the consultation will be submitted to the CARICOM Secretariat and the Caribbean Farmers Network.
“We have a desired result out of this consultation to receive feedback from the stakeholders to refer those discussions to CaFAN. These discussions will reach the level of the Alliance group of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED)”, she said.
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) is also lending support to the consultation.
IICA’s Technical specialist in Dominica, Kent Coipel expressed optimism that following the consultation, young people would have identified opportunities which will motivate them to get involved in agriculture.
“After today we should have identified some of the opportunities that will attract young people to Agriculture as well as to retain those already engaged in agriculture,” he said.
The IICA official noted that during the consultation, participants will identify capacity development needs to ensure that the potential benefits are maximized through the opportunities identified at the consultation.
“We would also like to ensure that we outline some mechanisms specifically for the youth in agriculture, to ensure that when they get engaged, they can sustain the opportunities,” Copiel concluded.
Wednesday’s consultation, which was held at the Fisheries Division’s conference room, was attended by youth from organizations such as the Dominica Youth Business Trust(DYBT), the National Association of Youth in Agriculture(NAYA), the Centre where Adolescents Learn to Love and Serve (CALLS) and the Dominica State College( DSC).
It is always a good thing to consult. It is even better to consult the people directly involved. The youth of today will provide the food of tomorrow.
It is always a good thing to consult. It is even better to consult the people who are going to be essential to the success of an endeavour. Congratulations to the people who are forward thinking enough to (a) consult, and (b)include the youth in such a vital endeavour.
It is the youth of today who are going to provide the food of the future, and consume it as well!!
just came from there interesting discussions….real informative…..
after 14 years in power now they no youth and agriculture existing election comlming
yes Ricky is support that!!!
Does Dominica have an Agricultural industry? If so may I ask what is its annual value? What is its annual percentage contributions to Dominica’s GDP? And what is the Government of Dominica Agricultural strategy? To continue with bananas? To plant coffee? To diversify into fruits and vegetables for export? What is it? I am not being difficult, but as a Dominican I do not know the answers to these questions? How then can Dominican kids inform a CARICOM Agricultural strategy – do they know Dominica’s agricultural strategy?
This information is readily available on line. Do your homework.
i love this…