Barbados: Youth Farmers Showcase Poultry, Livestock Skills

Eighteen young farmers showcased their skills in poultry and livestock production on Wednesday after completing an eight-week training program at the Alleyne School. An open day marked the culmination of this intensive program, with eight participants completing the poultry production course and another ten receiving training in livestock production.

Poultry production instructor Ryan Barrow noted that participants gained practical experience while working towards a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in General Poultry Production Level Two. He mentioned that the poultry participants raised more than 100 broilers and were also exposed to layer production, which included collecting eggs. The program included visits to Gale’s Hatcheries and a farm in St Lucy, providing participants with exposure outside the classroom.

The program was led by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council Barbados, and Gale’s Hatcheries. Other agricultural businesses have also supported the initiative since its inception in 2012.

Barrow encouraged young people to consider agriculture as a career, emphasizing its importance to food production. He stated, “Agriculture is a very, very viable career choice. There are many different areas in agriculture that students can get into and plus it’s… all about food, as I always tell my students: ‘No farm, no food.'”

Participant T’shay Als expressed that the program provided an opportunity to build on her existing interest in agriculture. She stated, “We learned a lot about this course. We learned properly how to take care of chicks, also how to … start a business in a way, and also… different aspects and different types of chicks.” Als, a student from St George who already studies agriculture at school and previously raised 100 broiler chickens, mentioned her desire to continue in this field, saying, “that’s honestly what I wanna do in life.” She encouraged other young people to participate, highlighting the fun activities and valuable learning experiences.

Fellow participant Elisha Lashley shared his insights, stating, “What I learned is that biosecurity is very important, and I also learned that agriculture, that poultry production in Barbados, is very important.” He noted that the program expanded his knowledge and experience in poultry rearing, mentioning his interest in acquiring more layers as he had more experience with them compared to broilers.

Livestock instructor Jelani Hunte reported that the ten participants in his cohort received both classroom instruction and practical training during the eight-week program. Practical sessions included castration, teeth and tailing in piglets, hoof trimming, simulated deworming, and ear tagging. Hunte mentioned that the program also focused on entrepreneurship, with all livestock participants already operating an agribusiness.

He recalled a participant expressing interest in farming more seriously after the program, inquiring about how to acquire land, become a registered farmer, and obtain quality livestock. Hunte remarked on the enthusiasm of the participants, stating, “I can see a bright future in farming for the guys.”

Source: barbadostoday.bb