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YOUTH AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE - LET'S PRESERVE!
Reginald Oliver Severin
Manager Young Farmers Programme
(Agri- Business Development Specialist) |
April 10, 2006 - Youth participation in our vital economic sector is threatened by the increasing disregard for agriculture as a noble profession in Dominica. Agriculture remains and continues to represent one of the key traditions that define our land and our people. With over 40% of our population represented by persons under the age of thirty-five (35) there is a dire need to address the challenges facing our youth so that they can make meaningful contributions to their development and to Dominica's development! Therefore in order to preserve our traditions and unique culture we must be cognizant of the important role that agriculture plays and its significance as a major part of our cultural heritage.
This means that as we aspire to preserve, celebrate and showcase our culture, agriculture must be an integral component of this initiative. The youth is important since they make up a significant part of our populace; we must not take it for granted their contribution, involvement and influence. Food safety and security issue will create undue pressure on our ability to and our response to cultural preservation. Agriculture in our communities is the direct panacea to food security and safety challenges; by involving our young minds through active participation in agriculture means that we are empowering our youth to be responsible for their livelihood while responding to these national threats.
Too often we allow ourselves to focus on the obstacles or hindrances that limit, sometimes prevent youth participation in agriculture. Credit access, land tenure, and motivation may be lacking, however, youth interest in agriculture remains prominent within and throughout our communities. Our institutional leaders believe otherwise - we know that it is true - youth are indeed interested in agriculture. The problem, however, lies not in interest or lack thereof but in the use of 'youth interest' as the excuse for not seeking and implementing practical solutions or responding to the actual problems encountered by young persons desiring to participate in agriculture.
When we look at the credit access problem youth in agriculture faces for example our national focus and choice of priority areas becomes clear as it pertains to our private financial sector: Young persons are provided with credit to participate in non-productive initiatives such as the purchase of cars, home entertainment systems, vacation travel, and other consumption-base items. There is much reluctance and stringent prerequisites when it comes to extending agricultural credit; very often financial institutions have poorly developed or non-existent financial support services that are required to continually monitor, evaluate and respond on a timely basis to the unique challenges faced by young agri-entrepreneurs.
Over the past months we have worked closely with our young farmers and discovered that they experience alienation (sometimes intentional neglect) with institutions that are responsible for providing financial and support services. The irony is many of these institutions bemoan the ill-results that ensue and provide social handouts through organized clubs as a response of idle youth actions: crime, violence, drug abuse.
We need direct, pre-meditated, well thought-out youth centered interventions. We can no longer go along with the excuse that youth is not interested therefore we are wasting resources and so hold back on changes. We must recognize that our youth must be exposed to all facets of our culture because we believe in holistic development.
Perhaps we need your input - can you develop special policies for youth access to credit at your institutions? Are you willing to invest in additional risk management instruments so that you can insure your youth-centered initiatives rather than watch your bottom line move towards red because of idle youth criminal activity?
Believe it Dominicans, investments in our agricultural youth have far reaching benefits - some as simple as providing alternative activities to occupy young minds to complex macroeconomic benefits of full employment of our human resource base in a sector that currently holds an export -import ratio of 1 to 3 confirming that we actually export our limited financial and human resources.
So it appears great to organize youth programs and develop complex expectations of our youth while we fail to set unique standards, positions and policies to direct our youth into productive sectors such as agriculture. Yes we know and appreciate the fact that agriculture is hard work and we understand why many of us move from agriculture - yes because we do not want to work hard. Let us not remain naïve - if you move from agriculture you are just looking for an easy life and no country in the world has developed based on an easy life - 'hard working' is a characteristic we should all embrace and agriculture has remained one of the noble, age-tested professions that embraces such trait.
Therefore as young persons involved in agriculture we compliment your choice, we encourage you to strive for the greater good and be comforted by the knowledge that you are committing to a lifetime of positive contribution to yourself, your family, your community and your country. Agriculture is important, agriculture needs youth, and agriculture wants you! Let's make a difference!
GIS NOTE:
(See the article on the Young Farmers Programme document)) |
