ROSEAU, Dominica, Aug 9, CMC -The Director General of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Dr. Didacus Jules says the agricultural sector in the sub region has been facing multifaced problems for the alst 15 years.
Addressing the inaugural OECS Youth in Agriculture (YIA) symposium that ends here later on Friday, Jules said that the problems in the agricultural sector in the sub region have led to decline and contraction.
The OECS groups the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sr. Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla and the British Virgin islands.
“Addressing these issues requires a concerted effort to revitalise the sector, policies that encourage youth participation, innovation and sustainable practices.”
He said recognising “this worrying trend” agriculture ministers from the OECS agreed that young people should be a priority pillar in the implementation of the OECS Food and Agriculture System Transformation.
Jules said that this “Fast Strategy” covers the period 2022-32 and OECS ministers at their meeting in June last year, they mandated the St. Lucia-based OECS Commission to develop a youth in agriculture programme.
“This symposium is a key component of that programme and the objectives of the Youth in Agriculture Symposium are ambitious, but vital,” he said, noting that it provides for promoting the agricultural sector for youth involvement as well as encouraging and supporting youth involvement in al stages of the agriculture chain and raise the profile of youths already in agriculture so as to inspire others.
The OECS Commission said the symposium aims to connect the next generation of agricultural leaders in the region through discussions on innovation, tools, opportunities, and the conditions necessary to shape the future of agriculture.
The Dominica government through its Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy is hosting the symposium, with other partnering agencies include the European Union through the Regional Integration Through Growth Harmonisation and Technology (RIGHT) programme, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management of Dominica, and World University Service of Canada (Caribbean).
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