Rural Employment Project to Target Young Persons in St. Thomas, Trelawny and Manchester

The Rural Youth Employment Project, an initiative of the Scientific Research Council (SRC) and the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), will be seeking to reduce rural youth unemployment in the parishes of St. Thomas, Trelawny and Manchester.
Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda, explained that the project aims to reduce rural youth unemployment by increasing access to sustainable livelihood options.
“This will be achieved through the provision of skills training and increased access to post-harvest and agro-processing facilities. Through the project, young persons will have, in addition to important life skills, the necessary skills to identify and access opportunities for engaging in other businesses along the agriculture value chain,” Mr. Samuda said.
The Minister, who was opening the 2010/11 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, today (May 11), stated that the project will work through established community groups, but will also accommodate young persons not currently involved in such groups.
“We expect this project will enhance current efforts to strengthen the linkages between the agricultural and tourism sectors, and the servicing of underserved niche markets,” Mr. Samuda said.
The Rural Youth Employment Project is a three-year initiative, made possible through a US$1.25 million support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).