Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 02, 2012 (SKNIS): Mrs. Florita Kentish, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean is promoting agriculture as a profession in which young people can make a profitable living.
This was revealed during a St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service exclusive, while Mrs. Kentish was in the Federation chiefly to present 2011 World Food Day Essay Competition Awards to three Washington Archibald High School Students. She emphasized that demonstrating to young people the possibilities in agriculture is critical.
“I think the organization needs to ensure that young people in all walks of life in the region recognize that agriculture is indeed important, valuable,” Mrs. Kentish emphasized. “They can work in every sphere of it, either directly in production, value-added careers in agriculture. They can work in all facets of agriculture and make very decent livelihoods.”
The FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator explained that she is based in Bridgetown, Barbados and her Sub-Regional Office comprises Technical Officers, programme staff and administrative staff. She further outlined the other country offices that she oversees.
“The Sub-Regional Office, also has as part of its strength, supporting FAO offices in the Caribbean,” Mrs. Kentish explained. “For instance, we have some other six countries that have their own FAO representatives, one in Guyana, one in Trinidad and Tobago – which services Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname, one in Jamaica – which services Jamaica, Bahamas and Belize, one in Cuba which services Cuba and one in the Dominican Republic and one in Haiti,”.
A preview was also given of upcoming activities.
“It is planned that, between September and December of this year, the Food and Agriculture Organisation will again partner with the government using sectoral linkages because you must use health, education, agriculture, trade and others to now look at developing really concrete food and nutrition security policies and action plans,” the FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator revealed.
Mrs. Kentish who is of Kittitian heritage, candidly explained that it was gratifying to see women such as herself in leadership positions in the region. She stressed that the objective was not to take the place of males but to be regarded on equal footing. The full interview will be aired on an upcoming SKNIS programme.
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