$700,000 Farmers Institute under construction at Orange Hill

In the next six months, farmers and interested persons will have the opportunity to attend classes at a brand new Farmers’ Institute that is currently under construction at Orange Hill.

Speaking on the site last Tuesday, area representative and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries the Hon. Montgomery Daniel told the media that as a government they are in the process of giving farmers and interested persons the required training in order to keep them at a competitive level.{{more}}

“We want to make sure as a government that we give the required training to the farmers of this country,” Daniel stated.

According to Daniel, farming is becoming more and more competitive and he considers it important to establish the farmers’ institute to upgrade farmers and improve their capacity to deal with the competitive level.

The institute, which will accommodate 40-45 farmers, will house a library, and an area for training. When conducting their practicals there will be lands allocated to them, which includes the Taiwanese Farm and other farms.

In highlighting the opportunities that will be made available to persons, Daniel told the gathering that although there is no special incentive that will be given to students who participate in the course and do not have lands of their own, efforts will be made to try to obtain lands for them.

According to the Minister, the Ministry of Agriculture has had several discussions with the Ministry of Education, educational institutions including the University of the West Indies in order to develop the curriculum for the training of the farmers.

The building is estimated to cost EC$700,000 and will cater for all farmers and persons interested in the farming business throughout the country.