Shaw tells young people to get ready for agricultural transformation

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon Audley Shaw, is encouraging young people to get ready to participate in the agricultural sector noting that they are integral to the transformation of the sector.
“Young people, it is time to get ready,” said Minister Shaw as he addressed thousands of young people at the Jamaica 4-H Clubs Inaugural National Youth in Agriculture Symposium held at the Northern Caribbean University in Mandeville on February 5.
“I believe that agriculture, rural development and the youth are inextricably linked and connected and a youth farmer who is well trained and amenable to technology is more likely to realize higher levels of production and productivity thus contributing to further economic development,” said the agriculture minister.
He commended the organisers for the initiative and enterprise in planning the symposium and pointed out that for the young people to successfully participate in the agricultural sector, access to information and education was critical.
Minister Shaw stated that it was the young people who would become the innovators of tomorrow feeding the growing world population, which is expected to increase to 9 billion by 2050, 14 per cent of which represents young people aged 15-24.
Stating that the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries’ goal is to re-energise the sector, Minister Shaw said that work was progressing on the development of a National Youth in Agriculture Policy and Implementation Plan that will be implemented by the Jamaica 4-H Clubs. This policy and implementation plan will seek to build a platform to address issues facing youth in agriculture, and develop the right mix of policies and strategies that meet their needs and aspirations.

Areas to be covered in the policy include topics such as Agri-business Development and Value Addition, Agro-Entrepreneurship and Agricultural Education and Training.