Hutchinson recommends youth involvement in agriculture to curb crime

Hon. J. C. Hutchinson (2nd right), Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and fisheries, tastes ginger grown using tissue culture technology along with Jherane Patmore, Gender Equity and Youth Programme Officer; and Alvin Murray (left), Project Coordinator ; both of the Promotion of Regional Opportunities for Produce through Enterprises and Linkages (PROPEL)– World University Services of Canada; to the delight of ginger farmer Taja Simpson (2nd left) from Maroon Town in St. James. The occasion was a Women and Youth in Agriculture Consultation Forum organised by PROPEL in Kingston on January 19.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon J.C. Hutchinson, is recommending that one way of curbing crime in the Jamaica is by getting more young people involved in agriculture. He was speaking at a Women and Youth in Agriculture Consultation Forum organised by the Promotion of Regional Opportunities for Produce through Enterprises and Linkages – World University Services of Canada in Kingston on January 19.
In supporting his suggestion, he cited an example of how a community in St. Elizabeth, which was affected by crime, was transformed when unemployed youths who were provided with inputs such as seeds and fertiliser became engaged in a farming project.
Minister Hutchinson also posited that hydroponics could play an important role in helping young people to become engaged in farming and disclosed that there is a young athlete who will be assisting young people in Manchester with the necessary inputs for the growing of strawberry while the Rural Agricultural Development Authority will provide technical assistance.
The Ministry, Minister Hutchinson said, recognised young people’s potential for risk taking and innovation and has been encouraging young people to become involved in agriculture-based activities as well as pursue careers in agriculture.
He commended the efforts of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs in engaging some 110,000 young people in agriculture through its 1,144 youth clubs and 568 school gardens as well as providing training opportunities for 105,000 youths. He, however, acknowledged the challenge youths faced in accessing land for farming and said that the Government had earmarked 100 acres of irrigated land at the Spring Plain Agro-Park for youths to engage in farming.
In addition, Minister Hutchinson said the Government was working closely with the National Land Agency to enter into an arrangement where young people will have access to idle Government-owned lands for the purpose of cultivating crops.
The Minister commended PROPEL for its focus on youth and women in the agricultural sector and for the important role that it has played in developing the agricultural sector in Jamaica.
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