Ministry of Agriculture leaders, agriculture stakeholders representing the public and private sectors, and the Faculty Division of Agriculture of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) met recently for a two-day consultation to revise the training curriculum for agriculture students from the next academic year.

The long-awaited initiative comes amidst calls to train tertiary-level students to an acceptable level where they can satisfy entry level employment in the agriculture sector.

Chairman of the SALCC Board of Governors, John Calixte, said the engagement between partners began last year. It is envisaged that the consultation, and the program and training activities consequently developed and implemented will serve as a foundation for the continued growth and development of Saint Lucia’s agriculture sector, and adjacent sectors such as tourism which rely heavily on the agriculture industry.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Barrymore Felicien, said the ministry is committed to developing a cadre of well-rounded agriculture professionals, and as such the ministry aims to help modify agriculture education to ensure that it is innovative, responsive, and relevant to the complex and ever-changing work environment—conditions, he insists, are critical to the effectiveness of all institutions that contribute to the agriculture sector.

By the end of the consultation period, a template for an agriculture curriculum should be completed, that will provide students with the skills to function more effectively, consequently, moving the agriculture sector to a position of greater advantage.

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