Youngsters Urged to Make use of New Technologies in Agriculture

Parish Agricultural Manager for the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) in St. James, Wentworth Mitchell, has appealed to 4H movement leaders to ensure that youngsters are exposed to new technologies in agriculture.
Mr. Mitchell, who was speaking at the opening ceremony of the St. James 04H annual Parish Achievement Day, held at the John Rollins Success Primary School, in Rose Hall, St. James, yesterday (April 3) expressed the view that there is a need for a paradigm shift towards more youth involvement in the sector if there is to be worthwhile development in that area.
“I know for sure that over the years the 4H movement has been involved in various agricultural activities, and we at RADA look forward to working closely with them and the youth they work with, because we want to acknowledge them as our nursery for the future development of agriculture in this country,” he stated.
“I implore those who lead these youngsters to make use of the opportunities in agriculture at this time, and the new technologies that are available. We need to see them (the youths) getting their hands-on experience with the technologies,” he stated.
He pointed out that in the field of agriculture there are a number of areas that call for specific skills, for the various disciplines. Mr. Mitchell noted that with food security being high on the Jamaican and world agenda, it is imperative that agriculture be viewed as the country’s main engine of growth and the way forward.
Forty schools participated in the annual Parish Achievement Day, which was held under the theme: “Developing our Youth, Improving our Country”.
The St. James 4H movement has approximately 5,000 registered clubbites.