According to Tiffany Surage, Technical Assistant at IICA, the collaboration aims to close the gap between young people and farming opportunities.

“There are youth who have great interest in agriculture and there is hope that this group will fill that void, so youth skilled workers would be available for farmers and also for themselves to have an input in agricultural production for Saint Lucia,” she explained.

However, Surage acknowledged that sparking youth interest in agriculture remains a challenge.

“Agriculture is not a subject that is taught from a very tender age, such as primary school. And most times in secondary schools, the curriculum is not strengthened, or the promotion to do agriculture as a subject for CXC is not promoted as much as other subjects,” she said.

This lack of early exposure, she noted, has contributed to a shortage of trained agricultural professionals in the country. According to her, young people also face significant barriers when entering the sector.

“There are many challenges, including access to finance, access to land, access to resources, and the reality that a lot of our farmlands are in remote areas,” Surage said.

Limited transportation options and inconsistent production levels further complicate the picture.

Despite these obstacles, the partnership between IICA and SLAFY is seen as a strategic move to foster innovation, build capacity, and ensure the next generation is equipped to sustain and grow Saint Lucia’s agricultural industry.