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The OECS Youth in Agriculture (YIA) Symposium, held from August 7 to 9, 2024 in the Commonwealth of Dominica, brought together over 55 young farmers and agro-processors from eight member states as well as industry experts and innovators to address the future of agriculture. Hosted at the Dominica State House and Windsor Park Sports Stadium in Roseau, the symposium successfully engaged youth in setting the stage for a new era of sustainable farming for food and nutrition security within the Organistation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Under the theme “Growing the Future and Harvesting Dreams”, the symposium featured a dynamic program of keynote speeches, panel discussions, mentorship sessions, tours, and networking opportunities. Participants engaged with a diverse range of topics including the importance of youth in decision-making and governance, value chain and market opportunities for youth, agri-business development, and the role of research innovation and technology in developing the sector.
Highlights of the Symposium:
When presenting the propositions of the youth, Mr. Victor Wade stated on behalf of all the participants:
“I applaud the governments of the OECS in seeing the value of the youths of today…We are gathered for you to listen, learn and understand what is needed of you to make that significant change.”
Excited about the opportunity to serve as the OECS YIA Person of the Year, Ms. Bevon Charles shared some remarks:
“I have always been passionate that we needed a youth voice in development for agriculture policy. We have policies being made for agriculture but we have not seen policies directly for youth in agriculture to address the needs and challenges facing the youth in agriculture. We needed the youth’s voices there, and the youth representation there – the youths at the table. I think that this symposium is a step in that direction. It’s a commitment [of] our ministers across the region that they are willing to listen to the youths and they have given us a position at the table so that we can be part of the decision-making process but also promising to give us necessary resources.”
Participants for the OECS YIA Symposium were selected by the ministries of agriculture in each member state based on specific criteria around the potential to contribute to regional food security and demonstration of innovation in the sector.
As the symposium concluded, participants left with a renewed confidence of commitment to support youth in agriculture. The event underscored the critical role that youth will play in shaping the future of food and nutrition security and the importance of continued investment in agricultural education and innovation.
The 2024 OECS Youth in Agriculture Symposium was organized by the OECS Commission, hosted by the Government of Dominica, and funded by the European Union Regional Integration Through Growth Harmonization and Technology Programme (RIGHT). Other partners included the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management of Dominica, and the World University Service of Canada (Caribbean).
Watch highlights from the symposium here.
https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?playerjs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DKS98x3Rd2vA&key=8fe6cdec03482ac31f27a6ae8ea2fb3f&img=1&v=1&app=1&lazy=1
Bevon Charles – 2024 OECS Youth in Agriculture Person of the Year
The OECS Youth in Agriculture (YIA) Symposium, held from August 7 to 9, 2024 in the Commonwealth of Dominica, brought together over 55 young farmers and agro-processors from eight member states as well as industry experts and innovators to address the future of agriculture. Hosted at the Dominica State House and Windsor Park Sports Stadium in Roseau, the symposium successfully engaged youth in setting the stage for a new era of sustainable farming for food and nutrition security within the Organistation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Under the theme “Growing the Future and Harvesting Dreams”, the symposium featured a dynamic program of keynote speeches, panel discussions, mentorship sessions, tours, and networking opportunities. Participants engaged with a diverse range of topics including the importance of youth in decision-making and governance, value chain and market opportunities for youth, agri-business development, and the role of research innovation and technology in developing the sector.
Highlights of the Symposium:
When presenting the propositions of the youth, Mr. Victor Wade stated on behalf of all the participants:
“I applaud the governments of the OECS in seeing the value of the youths of today…We are gathered for you to listen, learn and understand what is needed of you to make that significant change.”
Excited about the opportunity to serve as the OECS YIA Person of the Year, Ms. Bevon Charles shared some remarks:
“I have always been passionate that we needed a youth voice in development for agriculture policy. We have policies being made for agriculture but we have not seen policies directly for youth in agriculture to address the needs and challenges facing the youth in agriculture. We needed the youth’s voices there, and the youth representation there – the youths at the table. I think that this symposium is a step in that direction. It’s a commitment [of] our ministers across the region that they are willing to listen to the youths and they have given us a position at the table so that we can be part of the decision-making process but also promising to give us necessary resources.”
Participants for the OECS YIA Symposium were selected by the ministries of agriculture in each member state based on specific criteria around the potential to contribute to regional food security and demonstration of innovation in the sector.
As the symposium concluded, participants left with a renewed confidence of commitment to support youth in agriculture. The event underscored the critical role that youth will play in shaping the future of food and nutrition security and the importance of continued investment in agricultural education and innovation.
The 2024 OECS Youth in Agriculture Symposium was organized by the OECS Commission, hosted by the Government of Dominica, and funded by the European Union Regional Integration Through Growth Harmonization and Technology Programme (RIGHT). Other partners included the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management of Dominica, and the World University Service of Canada (Caribbean).
Watch highlights from the symposium here.
https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?playerjs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DKS98x3Rd2vA&key=8fe6cdec03482ac31f27a6ae8ea2fb3f&img=1&v=1&app=1&lazy=1
Bevon Charles – 2024 OECS Youth in Agriculture Person of the Year
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It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for ‘lorem ipsum’ will uncover many web sites still in their infancy.
The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making
The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for ‘lorem ipsum’ will uncover many web sites still in their infancy.
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