The University of Guyana Student’s Society (UGSS) internship project, facilitated through President Irfaan Ali’s Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme (AIEP), is proving to be a success.
UGSS President Shaquan Gill reports that approximately 20 students have gained practical agricultural skills for commercial purposes through this initiative.
The AIEP, conceptualized two years ago, aims to encourage youth participation in agriculture. Under this program, fifty-four shade houses have been set up to enable participants to cultivate high-value crops like broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, lettuce, and mint.
UGSS President Shaquan Gill emphasizes that the internship agreement, facilitated during his tenure, exposes more university students to the hands-on aspects of agriculture. This exposure encourages them to kickstart their careers in the field even while pursuing their studies.
Gill further notes that this internship is expected to make a significant contribution to the country’s economic growth and aligns with the government’s objective to enhance agriculture human resources for regional food security.
Apart from University of Guyana students, students from the Guyana School of Agriculture are also benefiting from the program. It is estimated that the initiative will yield over 16 metric tonnes of vegetables, to be supplied to stakeholders in Barbados and beyond.
Earlier this year, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha announced plans for the expansion of the program, including the construction of 300 additional shade houses. Moreover, 100 young agri-entrepreneurs will receive training to boost production by 50 percent.
Reporting for NCN News, Trichell Sobers