Scholarships Available for Agricultural Studies

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, is encouraging more young people to pursue a career in agriculture, noting that the Government will fund their studies.

He said that students can access support through the recently announced $100-million annual scholarship programme.

“We are also building on the Rio Tinto/Alcan Legacy Fund Agriculture Scholarship,” he noted. The Rio Tinto/Alcan Scholarship provides funding support for needy youth in St. Catherine, Manchester, and St. Ann who are members of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs and pursuing secondary and tertiary-level agricultural studies.

“What we must ensure is that when you do agriculture at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level and you do well and get a distinction (grade 1), we want you to stay in agriculture. We want to pay to further your education, especially if you’re doing something that aligns with the gaps in the Ministry,” he pointed out.

“So, we need more soil scientists, we need more agricultural specialists, we need more geneticists, we need those people, and we are willing to pay for the training of those people,” he added, while addressing the Hanover Agricultural Show held at Lord’s Playfield in Lucea on Friday (May 24).

He expressed concern about the recent announcement by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) to discontinue certification for the Agricultural Science (double award) due to low enrolment and called on the body to reconsider the move.

He emphasised the importance of the double award, which includes horticulture, in bolstering Jamaica’s education and agriculture sector.

He noted that while the single award in Agricultural Science remains unaffected, the interest in the double award, and horticulture by extension, makes it essential.

The Hanover Agricultural Show was held under the theme ‘New FACE of Food… Raising the Bar in Agriculture’.

Organised by the Ministry, in partnership with the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), the event featured a livestock display, crop exhibitions, demonstrations of modern farming techniques, among other activities.

The event highlighted advancements in horticulture and provided a platform for farmers to showcase their achievements and share knowledge with their peers and the public.