Ministry develops Youth in Agriculture Policy

Youth Can Do It:
2016 National Farm Queen, Safiya Clennon (left) supporting the "Eat Jamaican" Day Exposition, held at Devon House on November 25, 2016. Others (L-R) are Custos of Kingston, Mr. Steadman Fuller; President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Mr. Norman Grant; and Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Mr. Stephen Wedderburn.

Work is now under way by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries (MICAF) to develop a National Youth in Agriculture Policy aimed at analysing and promoting the participation of more young people in the sector.
Under a three-month consultancy, made possible through the support of a Promotion of Regional Opportunities for Produce through Enterprises and Linkages (PROPEL) Canadian-funded project, a policy document is currently being developed and is to be tabled in Cabinet when completed.
The two main deliverables of the consultancy are to conduct a situational analysis on youth participation in agriculture in Jamaica and to design a National Youth in Agriculture Policy and Implementation Plan.
The Terms of Reference of the consultancy indicate that the scope of the study is to determine the barriers and challenges male and female youth producers and agri-preneurs face , such as production barriers, access to extension support, access to input barriers, post-harvest practices for those in crop production, financial barriers and credit needs, barriers for agro-processing and gender-related barriers.
The study is also expected to determine the level of involvement and engagement of male and female youth producers in high value markets and fresh produce value chains.
In addition, the scope of the study requires that the consultants
• Present an understanding of youth involvement (roles, market engagement, etc.) in agriculture and identification of opportunities for youth in both farming and value addition.
• Review relevant diagnostic work, including studies and reports that have been undertaken pertaining to youth participation and any barriers, challenges and opportunities for increased engagement in agriculture.
• Select individuals from a mix of public, private and NGO sectors, including youths, to conduct key informant interviews, sample survey and focus group discussions to ascertain the key programmatic issues affecting youth participation in agriculture.
• Prepare a comprehensive summary/situational analysis of the youth in agriculture in Jamaica and make reference to international and regional obligations as well as links with other policies, plans, programmes, legislation and regulations that are pertinent; and include a summary profile of emerging major issues.
• Ensure the inclusion of considerations of youth, gender and climate change as required by Cabinet.
• Participate in and facilitate wide stakeholder consultation meetings to validate findings and draft policy; and integrate findings and recommendations in the policy document for submission to Cabinet.
A series of consultative workshops are being held, December 6, 7 and 13, with young people in different locations islandwide.
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