Agriculture camp aims to grow young farmers

More than 20 primary and secondary school students have completed the first cohort of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Hearts and Minds summer camp, with organisers hoping to expand the programme next year as they seek to inspire a new generation of farmers.

The month-long camp, which began in July, exposed students to soil care, animal care, food production, agribusiness and agriculture as a career.

As a ceremony brought the camp to a close, Minister of Agriculture Dr Shantal Munro-Knight said increasing food production alone would not be enough unless Barbadians developed a stronger connection with agriculture.

The camp was designed to help young people understand the importance of producing food for themselves and their communities: 

“Agriculture is for us. It isn’t to feed the tourists and to feed other people. It is to feed our families, our farmers, the people who produce the food.”

Dr Munro-Knight urged Barbadians to preserve backyard gardening traditions as the country works towards greater food security:

“There are certain fundamental things that are good for us, that are important to our national development that we need to be able to keep and being able to feed ourselves, being able to go out in the backyard and pick some spinach, and get some peas. From the tree that’s hanging over there, all of those things are important.”

Developing those skills could become increasingly important during times of crisis, she suggested:

“Those things are what is gonna help us when there is war, like there is now, and we can’t get our food brought in, and I hope you’re going to be able to make sure that you don’t go hungry. That is how we’re gonna make sure that those that are invested in farming continue to have a livelihood because we have to eat the food that they grow.”

Camp director David Davis said that after spending four weeks with the students, he was confident about the island’s future:

“I spent the last four weeks with you kids, and I saw brilliant, wonderful minds at work every single day. I was nervous, but then I met you guys, and I became very comfortable because I know the future of Barbados is in good hands.”

Davis stressed the importance of making agriculture a priority and encouraging young people to get involved.

“We must put agriculture at the top of the list, and we must all play our part in ensuring that these kids, these bright ones, the seeds that are planted in, we can. Push, we can nurture them and ensure that we can have them grow to be geniuses that you know that you are.”

Assistant camp director Keisha Weekes praised the students for their enthusiasm and willingness to learn throughout the programme.

“Over the past weeks, we have watched these young minds embrace every opportunity to learn. Their enthusiasm, curiosity, and eagerness to discover the four pillars of agriculture have been truly inspiring. They asked questions, thoughtful questions, participated wholeheartedly in every activity, and reminded us that the future of agriculture is bright where young people are given the chance to explore.”

She said the experience allowed students to develop new skills while gaining a greater appreciation for agriculture.

“It has been wonderful to witness the confidence, friendship, and knowledge that have grown throughout this camp. I hope each of you leave here today with not only new skills, but also a greater appreciation for the important role agriculture plays in our daily lives.”

Camp counsellor Tawana Russell said students were introduced to the four pillars of the programme — soil, livestock, seed to table and agribusiness.

“Together we explored the four pillars of the programme: soil, livestock, seed to table, and agribusiness. Along the way, we watched our campers grow in confidence, ask thoughtful questions, work together, and develop a genuine appreciation for agriculture.”

She said the campers gained a better understanding of the importance of farming.

“They learned that soil is more than dirt, that livestock requires patience and responsibility and that food does not simply appear on supermarket shelves. Additionally, they learned that agriculture is not only a way of life, but it’s also a career, a business, and an essential part of our nation’s future.”

For camper Jamira Waithe, one of the highlights of the programme was getting hands-on experience:

“We saw how the chickens are raised and are processed before they are in the supermarket or in the store. We went on tours, and we had fun. The best thing about this camp is when we did our grow boxes together. We got to help, and we planted some seedlings in the soil. This camp was the best camp I ever went to.”

Another camper, Zion Griffith, said the experience changed his perception of agriculture:

“Before attending the camp, I thought agriculture was only about planting crops and taking care of animals. However, I quickly realised that it’s much more than that. Agriculture is a vital part of our lives because it provides the food we eat every day and supports the livelihoods of many people.”

Students also learned about sustainable farming practices, he said.

“I learned many valuable skills. We had the opportunity to plant crops, care for plants, and learn about different farming methods. I also discovered the importance of protecting the environment by using sustainable farming practices.”

(LG)