Consultations begin for establishment of the Moruga Farm School

Youths, farmers and agricultural professionals of Moruga and environs will soon have an opportunity to explore all possible opportunities in the agricultural sector once the Moruga Farm School is established fully.

Youths, farmers and agricultural professionals of Moruga and environs will soon have an opportunity to explore all possible opportunities in the agricultural sector once the Moruga Farm School is established fully.

The people of Moruga met with the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service (MYDNS) on Saturday 18th September 2021, to share their opinions and views on the Moruga Farm School.

Minister of Youth Development and National Service, Foster Cummings, notes the Moruga Farm School is designed to encourage young people to participate in technical and vocational education and training in Agriculture though a residential training institution for an estimated 150 students.

“The Ministry of Youth Development and National Service is determined to provide the 500,000 plus young people of Trinidad and Tobago with agricultural opportunities to realise their fullest potential. This Farm School will introduce modern technology to farming practices and allow young people to utilise these in their farming endeavours,” the minister explained.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service, Farook Hosein, points out the initiative is the latest addition to existing technical/vocational training facilities in the country.

“The construction of this Farm School not only increases the number of residential developmental facilities for technical/vocational skills training for young persons throughout Trinidad, but it will also provide first-class training conditions for young men and women between the ages of 16 and 25 to embrace agriculture as a preferred way to earn a living,” PS Hosein noted. 

Several community groups were represented at the online consultation including: the Moruga/La Savanne Food Crop Farmers Association; the Moruga Development Committee; the Moruga Hill Rice Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society Limited; and the Cunjal Food Project.

The attendees contributed to a number of topics including suggestions for the Farm School’s location and facility design; areas of study; and subject matters such as entrepreneurship and financial management, and smart technology and agricultural practices.

Emmanuel Pierre, member of the Moruga Development Company and Young Farmers Food Production Company, thanked the Ministry for the initiative.

“I’d like to thank the Ministry and different agencies for what they are doing for the community and young persons. We want to continue working with you on this project and we thank you for the consultation and we look forward to future consultations,” Pierre stated.

Several officials also were in attendance including Senator Randall Mitchell, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts; Senator Kazim Hosein, Minister of Rural Development and Local Government; Michelle Benjamin MP, Member of Parliament for Moruga/Tableland; and Joseph Lorant, Councillor for Moruga.