The future of the local agricultural sector was on full display recently at the Orange Hill Biotechnology Centre, as students from the first cohort of the Agricultural Productivity Recovery and Young Farmers’ Training Project presented their comprehensive Agricultural Business Plans.
The presentations served as the culmination of a rigorous 19-week training period designed to equip young participants with both theoretical knowledge and practical agricultural skills. To complete the program, each student selected a specialized topic to develop into a viable business model. These topics highlighted a shift toward modern agricultural practices, including Plant Factories, Tissue Culture, Composting, Seedling Management, and the cultivation of high-value crops such as cherry tomatoes, sweet peppers, and cucumbers.
The participants’ business strategies were evaluated by a distinguished panel of judges representing key stakeholders in agriculture, tourism, and development. The panel included:
- Rohan McDonald, Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer (Ag)
- Kevin Lin, Chief of the Taiwan Technical Mission
- Donawa Jackson, CARDI Representative
- Isola Giddings, President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Hotel and Tourism Association
- Andy Lin, Project Manager of the Taiwan Technical Mission
- Gale DaSilva, Consultant for the Young Farmers Training Programme.
To encourage entrepreneurial success, the project offered significant cash prizes to the top three presenters: EC10,000 for first place, EC8,000 for second, and EC$6,000 for third. Furthermore, students who met performance standards but did not place in the top three will receive agricultural supplies and materials to help them establish or expand their own farming enterprises.
The Agricultural Productivity Recovery and Young Farmers’ Training Project is a collaborative five-year initiative between the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Transformation and the Taiwan Technical Mission.
The project’s primary mission is to modernize the agricultural sector by introducing “smart” technologies, such as protected cultivation systems and water-saving practices. By focusing on young farmers and providing them with essential business training, the initiative aims to enhance national food security and build long-term economic resilience for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
