Rambharat: Why aren’t youth in agriculture?

The unit is available to all schools across the country One school, the Aspirare Learning Community, has already experienced the joys of aquaponics. Its principal, Albertha Hercules, called it a “special project for special children” and said “our students were excited, with expressions of joy and laughter on their faces” about this new venture.

Expressing her appreciation for the support of the minister and the ministry for the project, she said it was a huge success in which the children reaped a harvest of tomatoes, lettuce, chive, celery, parsley, patchoi, and sweet peppers which they shared with parents of the students and used in the school kitchen.

Stating that the lion’s share of the benefit to her students was psychological, she encouraged other schools to “get on board, make the project your own and reap the benefit!” Rambharat said he was very proud of the project and his ability to refer people to the demonstration unit so they could see the practical side of it.

And while he said it was a challenge to get young people interested in agriculture and aquaponics in particular, he said he and the ministry remained “completely focused on what we have to do, and I am very pleased that we have partnered with a brand as strong, solid and supportive as Digicel.” He said he had come “to see first-hand what has been done, hear of the experiences of the various schools how this can work for them and what are the challenges they have faced, here to tell my own story as I know first-hand of some of the challenges working with the Rio Claro Learning and Development Centre, and here to tell Digicel that I will continue to personally support the Foundation and the work of Digicel.”