THA gets $$ for youth agri project

AGRICULTURE MINISTER Jarette Narine recently presented a cheque for over $228,000 to the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) to assist with the development of the Tobago arm of the Youth Apprenticeship Prog-ramme in Agriculture (YAPA), which is targetted at youths between the ages of 17 and 25. Following the presentation Narine explained that the additional funding was part of Government’s initiatives to encourage young people to get involved in agriculture. He said the programme, which is being done in phases, also involves distribution of lands and formal training of young people in modern technology related to agriculture.

THA’s Secretary for Agriculture Hughvon McKenna said that he was happy for the additional fund and noted that Trinidad and Tobago were working hand in hand to re-develop Tobago’s agricultural industry. McKenna explained that at one time the sister isle was the food basket of the country. He said he saw YAPA as a step toward getting youths involved in agriculture. The programme is expected to train 200 participants in the first instance.

He said when the “older folks are gone, the young ones are there to continue the work that has been started, and even at this stage to learn the old methods and combine it with modern methods to boost the island’s agricultural industry.” McKenna said the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) provided a grant to the THA to implement agricultural programmes in five schools. In addition the Kendall Farm School will be remodelled into an Agricultural Institute and its curriculum will be upgraded.