Some 150 youths in this country between the ages of 18 and 35 years will have an opportunity to become 21st century agribusiness entrepreneurs, when they participate in the first cohort of the Youth Agricultural Homestead Programme (YAHP), in the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service (MYDNS).
The Programme was launched officially on Tuesday 1st March 2022, and online applications are now open for interested participants at the Ministry’s website, www.mydns.gov.tt
The event included a presentation on the YAHP Application Process which showed the ease with which interested young women and men could apply. Online applications for YAHP are open until Monday 14th March 2022.
Minister of Youth Development and National Service, Foster Cummings MP, said the agricultural training programme is designed to equip young people with the skills to become successful 21st century agribusiness entrepreneurs.
“Year 1 will offer comprehensive training in crop production and animal husbandry. On completion, successful trainees will gain access to land, technical and financial support, to prepare for the second year of training,” the Minister explained.
He added: “Year 2 will offer practical training on the land assigned to each trainee. On completion of Year 2, successful trainees will move on to become land lease holders and graduate as a new 21st century farmer.”
Minister in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Adrian Leonce MP, who also was present at the YAHP’s official launch, described the Programme as “a step in the right direction to awaken enthusiasm for agriculture in our young people.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Senator Clarence Rambharat, said YAHP is a great opportunity for young people needing economic independence.
“Today we launch a beautiful opportunity for homesteading—which comes from a long history of housing and provision of agricultural land by the Government. This programme is a refreshed approach that gives young people the ability to farm and make a profit while they live on the land,” explained Minister Rambharat.
