BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE next generation of farmers in St. Kitts were cultivated Saturday (Apr. 4) in Half Way Tree by a joint venture between the Community Achievers Project (CAP) and the Embassy of the Republic of China on Taiwan.
The two-year-old CAP offers students of various primary schools an avenue to excel in the area of agriculture, stressing its importance as a career in a developing country.
CAP’s latest project began with minor farm work on the Riches of the Earth Farm, Half Way Tree six months ago, and Saturday saw the eager students claiming a bountiful harvest from the fallow quarter-acre they dramatically transformed through hard work.
Project Coordinator Victoria Baucom informed that the students have focussed on the cultivation of cantaloupe and sweet corn, and have received much assistance from the Taiwanese Embassy. She said that from the onset the children were excited about the initiative, noting that the project has achieved much in a short span of time.
“At first, I too was somewhat sceptical because it normally takes 80 - 110 days to grow cantaloupes. But now the cantaloupes are falling from the stems and they are good. We will be selling our cantaloupes at the harvest, and 10% of the profits will establish the CAP Children's Fund.
“It is our ambition to be able to pay the admission fee in the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College or, if the child does not go to college, to pay the same amount to help him or her start their own business. These are our future leaders and they are preparing themselves to help stimulate the economy in St. Kitts by tapping into the natural wealth this country provides,” she added.
Resident Taiwanese Ambassador His Excellency Rong-chuan Wu said the partnership with CAP is aimed at introducing youth to the importance of agriculture, and commended the project for its successful 90% yield.
“If you could do this with such a small area of land, imagine how much you can do with even one acre! We must understand that doing agriculture is not a labour job; it has dignity in it,” Wu said. “It is a career. I encourage you to get educated in this field and get a degree to be the best in agriculture.”
The ambassador added that entrepreneurial opportunities in agriculture would be more readily available to the youth than in the past due to Taiwan’s passionate belief that the science of agriculture is vital to nation building.
“Our Embassy would spare no assistance to provide technical assistance, technology and finance, but you also have to play your part. We would like to see the self-sufficiency of your nation in terms of agriculture, and even eventual exporting to neighbouring islands.”
Nineteen of the students at the harvesting ceremony, 16 males and three females, were awarded for their diligence through special recognition certificates from CAP.
