 Good day viewers, and welcome to the program, Agriculture on the Move. I am Philip Sinney, your host. Today, we are having a very interesting topic. Anything to do with the youth in agriculture, I am in that. So today, we are looking at the revitalizing St. Lucia Agriculture Forum for Youth, also called SLAFI. I have three individuals here with me, nice individuals, good looking, very vibrant, and we are here to have a very good discussion in that regard. Next to me is Mr. James Nalfos, who is an interim executive member of SLAFI, and we also have next to him, Tiffany Suraj, who is a technical assistant in ICA, and of course we have Cindy Eugene, who is an Agri and Marketing Officer in the SAC project. Welcome to the program, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I said a few, Cindy, because we need to know a little history of SLAFI, and I think you have been around for a while, and you should know. So tell St. Lucia, what is SLAFI, when began, what are the objectives of SLAFI? So thank you for having me, and thank you for giving SLAFI a voice to revitalize, to be revitalized. So the SAC project, which is a project which is through the Woosk Caribbean funded by the Government of Canada, we've seen it best to try to revitalize SLAFI, a project, not a project, sorry, but a group that started in the early 2000s, and when it started, there was a chapter in Dominica, St. Vincent, Trinidad, if I can recall, but it might have been more. Grenada. Grenada, and there was the Caribbean Agriculture Forum for Youth. ICA was the one spearheading this. We had a mother of this program, Yuna May Gordon, and also the ED at the time was Dr. Chesney, who was in Costa Rica. You saw the need, at the time, there was a need to have young people involved in agriculture. The problems for youth getting involved in agriculture were still, sound still like what we have now, and that was formed to give the youth a voice and a place at the table. Ever since 2003, young persons were being represented at the Caribbean Week of Agriculture when you met with the ministers of agriculture, and every other platform beat all over the world. You had the voice of the youth being represented from the Caribbean. To date, we are not hearing that voice, it is silent. So now we've come back to partner with ICA and get the youth back involved in agriculture using a platform that already exists. So Slafi is there, it's recognized, we'd like to see that revitalized, and hopefully the Caribbean chapter itself will be revitalized. So Saint Lucia is pivotal in that? Taking the lead. Yes, taking the lead. Yes. Jameson, you were a member of Slafi before, right? Yes. And now you are an interim member. Go back and tell us exactly what were your involvement, how Slafi operated during your tenure? I joined Slafi, I think, in 2015, there about 14-15. At that time, Slafi was quite active, we had guys like Kurt Harris, Carl, the milter, they were very active. During that time, they had many projects working on, many initiatives working on, also working with ICA. But what happened over time, those guys passed because Slafi's designed for youth within the youthful age. And when those guys passed on from the youth age, there was not that continuation of Slafi. I think that was one of the biggest challenges. There was a void. There was a void during that time. So in terms of the induction of new youth so that it can continue, I think that's one of the biggest challenges Slafi faced. In terms of my involvement, when I first joined Slafi, I heard of Slafi on a radio program. I went to the ICA office and through that, I was introduced to Kurt and I think a few other guys. At that time, I wanted to do a project, have an aquaponics project, you may know that. I went to them for assistance. They didn't help me immediately but over time, I benefited from being a member of Slafi. So through that, I was able to get some grand funding from Jeff. They solarized my system and gave me some equipment and also partaking in other projects as well. Through being a member of Slafi. So there were benefits? Yeah, definitely. Was there a number of youth involved? Was there a number? Was it a group? Yeah, it was a group effort at the time. Okay, approximately how many? Not a big group. A small, maybe around 10? Around 10. At one point, it was 30-something persons, even during my time, active. And I think we still have a project going on that started maybe in 2007 or 2009, the Hoops project. We know that Slafi and the youth in agriculture was built, not built but kept going by Masi. This project was one that Naya, because Naya, the chapter in Dominica, we had a Caribbean meeting and they presented a project helping out our primary schools. They called Hoops. And the president then, Mr. Wallace, Malcolm Wallace, he shared it with me and I said, can we adopt this institution? He said, go ahead, because we're all in this together. Right. To make this project, presented it to the government for assistance, we did not get that. And EECA started it off with the primary schools, Masi picked it up and it's still happening. Wow, still EECA will definitely have this one. Thanks, Mrs. Sidney. So for Hoops, actually we had a conversation about that earlier in office and the Hoops project per se is not active 100% but still in the logistics or the database of Masi. They're still receiving produce from, I think, the Azure Secondary School and other schools that participated or benefited from the Hoops project. But I could say, since we were already speaking about Hoops, the Hoops project is one of the initiatives or programs that we believe that will be one of the initiatives or the first initiative of Slaffy when it is revitalized very soon. Yes. So where, well, you're new, but going through, because I'm going through the records, where you believe Slaffy fell, now we're talking about revitalizing it. So what were the problems? What were the bottlenecks? Well, Jameson spoke of it and it was the lack of new members. So there was no membership drive for continuity and as a result, there is still an interim. So we're trying to resolve that situation. So that was the problem? I would say the visibility of Slaffy has been low and for the last because even me being out for the last maybe 10 years, I can't recall hearing anything about Slaffy. So I always tell persons that if you have a group, you have an organization and you don't have a succession, it's because persons don't see it as something for them to be part of. So a lot was happening, but it was happening quiet and silent behind closed doors possibly. Also in discussion with the more senior members, the time they formed Slaffy, everybody was more like less responsible. When their responsibility increased and they would say that their personal commitment came them away from a lot of the activities the group used to have. Because people grew and some had children, some got married. So the times of attending meetings at EECA because activities such as meetings would be held at the EECA office. So perhaps members would come out all over the country and say, okay, I cannot make it because it's far transportation, kids, there is personal responsibilities. So that somewhat contributed to the downfalls or the lack of continuity. We did not have Zoom and all this. So it's either you were physically there or you were not there. But when you turned 35, you had to get out. So at 35 is a cut off point for youth. So then that's, you know, people wiggle the wiggle way of making it happen. But at the end of the day, this time around, it must change. You need to see this active, vibrant group that has a succession plan to ensure that you have members constantly coming in. Even the starting age, because with helping out our primary schools, we also had assistance with the four age clubs because you had, I remember one time FAO assisted in giving a manual to teach students using the garden as a learning tool. So the children at Cicero used to go out and measure between the plans for mathematics, you know, using the garden, weighing their produce. So you learn how to use a scale. You learn how to subtract to you when you sell, you know, the profits. So using the garden as a learning tool, we saw a lot of that happening then. I remember a group from Canaries, Keith, Kenneth, and his wife. When they went to, when Ika gave them the opportunity to go see a farm in Jamaica to get them ready to get a passport. I mean, Salafi has done a lot for so many young people in San Lucia, but this is like untold. You know, so I think now it's a time that Salafi comes on and with a project like SAC, because SAC project here is one that is already responsive to the youth. Our focus is to work with young persons, to work with women, to work with marginalized men. And the focus for the SAC project is to ensure that there's economic prosperity for all that we work with. At the end of the SAC project, you should not even know that the SAC project has ended because it must be sustainable. The interventions that we make must be interventions along the value chain. We facilitate these interventions with the gaps. We fix these things through the mechanisms that already exist. So if there's a problem with extension, if there's a problem with the input suppliers, we address the problem so that we fix the system. We are using an inclusive market system approach where we ensure that we just don't go and give handouts. Like the intervention we intend on making with Salafi is to see that the agency, that Salafi in itself becomes more empowered. So at the end of SAC or while they were on, we can see now before we give Salafi something in terms of the, even Jameson's project, maybe Jameson can have men see to see that somebody can, because the youth, what are the youth involved in? You can get interns. Part of my, part of me receiving a project, there is a mentorship program aspect of it. Perfect. And almost all the schools in the south have been to see my project. I know Mr. Seed. Oh yes, that would be the main thing. Quite a lot of times. We've been featured in a few other stuff, but it's still open for schools as well. And SAC project is willing, I can tell you that we can commit to get some interns there that we can support. We can come as in apoponics and... Yeah. Because that's what the youth are interested in. Sometimes we think when we speak to youth in agriculture, we want to forget the older persons who paved the way. But what we want to do for the summer is to have an internship to get the young persons assigned to the more senior farmers. So you can understand and see what are the problems and see what technological measures you can put in place to address it. The farmers have a problem with pre-elasticity, right? The farmers have problems with sprain, when they need to get... We have Crystal Cox. Crystal was a medical doctor. When she left, she was a young person. Seven years ago, she left to go join her father in the farm and she's a full-time farmer. That was a major achievement for St. Lucia as a young person. And where was that story? That's right. This story, Crystal's story must be one to be documented and walk through. But even having the young persons look at drones to fertilize. So you're getting involved in agriculture. It doesn't have to be you going and putting a bag on your back and you cutting, you know? No. The thing is, we keep saying so from year back, year in, year out. We need to sexy up agriculture. But I don't think we've done... Like, we've done evolution, to show the evolution of technology in agriculture and see how we came from the did, what people would know. As drudgery and now we need to take on the natural life. That is where the youth come in for. Exactly. The youth involved in that transition. Yes. But we're going to a break. But one of the things I want us to bear in mind at the next session is, you know, I am hearing people, organizations are working in silos. I'm not hearing, for example, agriculture. There is no agriculture involvement in what we are talking about. But we do for our break. You're watching I Reculture the Move, stay tuned, we'll be back soon. Excessive agrochemical use, additives and genetically modified foods are harmful to health and the environment. Join the Good Food Revolution. Grow, buy and consume organic. A message from Rye St. Lucia and the Ministry of Sustainable Development with funding from the GEF Small Grants Program, UNDP. The Good Food Revolution. Welcome back to the program, Agriculture on the Move. Of course, we are talking about youth in agriculture. It's very, very important. There's a void and we keep saying we want to bring the youth back in agriculture. How are we doing it? We have tried many, many, many things to get them back in agriculture. We talk about sexing up agriculture. But then, you all are young people, right? You all lead the next generation. Yes, I know you, you get it borderline. But it's a serious thing because the thing is I am hearing organizations in silos and they want to help the youth. IKAR wants to help you. Then you have your SAC project coming on board. Agriculture also came on board. It was the year projects. All right, there was a lot of young people involved. I mean, so much money was pumped into the year project. I'm yet to see the results. Honestly, I mean, I know there have been success stories, but is there supposed to be a second phase? What's going on? Where are we? What are we doing? There's supposed to be financing. Tell me something here. SAC coming on board. How is SAC coming on board? I used to be part of the year, but the year project from my estimation, the year was not successful, I can see. And part of the challenge was financing. What was supposed to do was bring finance to the youth. And we ask young people to get involved in agriculture, any business, and you don't provide the facilities for them to get there. You're setting them up to fail, unless if you don't do it, you ask them to do black magic, because I cannot think of how else they will get the resources they need. And even sometimes you will be ready to give them financing. You want somebody to start a business for $20,000, $50,000. You're setting them up to fail. You need to assess that business. Even now, we don't intend on saying to anybody, hey, this is what we offer you. We want you to tell us what do you need? And we analyze this and see how best we can assist, how best we can facilitate the process. The thing is, Eugene, what I find is that we, the hierarchists sit and they plan for the youth, but they don't plan with the youth. That is an issue, that's always a problem. Do you know what they want? They can tell you what they want. Yeah, that is true. And that is a problem, I'm hoping moving forward something and different formula is going to be looked at, okay? I heard Iqa is coming on board with something to do tomorrow, with some meeting tomorrow, is it? Okay, well... What's that program about? Well, it's not a program, but it's a meeting, the membership drive, or more say the presentation of Slafi. So we've invited youth all over this, where we have a flyer being circulated far and near. I know, Ms. Eugene, can attest to that. Jameson and the rest, that we have been promoting this meeting tomorrow, this membership drive, so not a meeting, but a membership drive. So it's not limited to anyone. As long as you have the link, you register and you join. Slafi will be presented somewhat giving us an opposite of what has happened in the past and how Slafi has assisted, not assisted, but somewhat guided the youth or given, give the youth a voice or a place to be, to share their ideas in agriculture. And tomorrow, we have this membership drive from 7.30 to 9.00 p.m. You come on to the meeting, you listen to hear what's happening, or what's not in store for you, like Cindy said, but how can we respond to your needs? You can ask questions. It's like a town hall meeting, I should say. And after then, we'll be planning for our annual general meeting. And we should be the next step somewhat to revite, not somewhat, but to revitalize the group. To set an executive. To set an executive, yeah. And from then on, our activities will start based on, well, responding to the needs of the youth. Where is the meeting going to be held and what time? It is a virtual meeting from 7.30 to 9.00 p.m. The flyers are out and I, the flyers are out on the Woosk Caribbean page, on the ICA ECS Instagram page. And some members are sharing it within their personal channels in groups on WhatsApp, et cetera. So in addition to having it virtual, you don't think you should have had, at least, a physical meeting? Because of the time, because what we heard, persons said that they were not available during the day. So what we will assess after tomorrow's meeting is their need to have a physical meeting because the young persons are saying it's better for them to have it on an evening, 7.30 to 9.00. That's what was presented to us. So we're going with this for now. But we have a registration process and we've been, the numbers are going up. So persons are getting that link, they're seeing the flyer, they're interested. We have that, we can assume that level of interest is being gained from the public, from the youth in public. Let me ask a question. Why you could allow Stuffy to get to that point and then looking at revitalized Stuffy at this point? I mean, I don't know, I'm just asking a stupid question. No, no question is stupid. Thanks for your question. But perhaps, well, at the time of the, when the interim was created, and Jameson can interject, you know. But in the time of the, when the interim was created, there was work to be done under constitution and Ika was working under constitution at the time. But it took some time having to revisit the constitution, get comments from the interim and go back and forth. So I think that time in the back and forth and in addition to the delays of not having these active members or the members being passed the age of 35. And according to the constitution, they would not active members. So if they're not active members, then perhaps probably they cannot go ahead and do activities or take these initiatives because according to the constitution, they're not within the youthful age. So until that could have been settled, then they could have gone on as active members. I think I'm clear. But now they're back on and ready to. Yes, so let's talk about the future and present. Yes, please. Interim came around, I think that was late 2019. And following 2019, we all know COVID-19 and interrupt everything else. So that there was some delay. So as a member of the interim committee, our role at the time was to review the constitution, try to ensure it is more inclusive that is including members past 45. So instead of when someone reach of that youthful age that they can sit and lean on and continue holding on the organization, be in a trustee to the organization. So those are those things who put in place. However, like I said, COVID came around and that had a big void, a big gap. And pretty much like Lady said, we're just trying to start it back. Okay, moving forward. So what are we looking for? What's the bright future? So now you have two teams. You have Iqor, you have Woosk Caribbean. Our chapter for us, we have the OECS chapter, Dominica and Senoshia Worker is one. My country coordinator Nadia, Dr. Paket Ansem, she is, I'm sure she's watching now. She's ready and saying, Cindy, we need to push and address. We will be working with them to support the youth. I spoke with Greg. Greg called me this morning. They rep for Iqor and he's willing to push. And he said, we are going to, hopefully we'll be having an MOU to ensure that we drive youth in agriculture in Senoshia. And maybe starting off to see youth being represented in Caribbean week of agriculture come October, you know? So we're ready to lend support to see to it that we support the agenda for youth in agriculture. Where is the minister of agriculture in all of this? We have, like Johnny Smith is our liaison officer on the project. So he is involved, any discussion, any project with the ministry, we go through him. And the ministry is very supportive because even for the youth project, for Slafi, we have a volunteer coming from Canada to look at governance and leadership. And that document is with the PS. It should be the ministry of agriculture right now to approve that Canadian volunteer coming down to ensure, because I've told them that we have this meeting tomorrow in the next few weeks, we should have an AGM and we should have a group ready to present that level of support, to get them ready because we do not want to present resources to them and they are not equipped to handle and manage these resources. So through, say, SACO, another Canadian NGO, the government of Canada is pushing some serious resources in that through the Global Affairs Canada. And we are seeing that we want to get it done right. We're not rushing to throw things at the youth, but the governance and leadership training, hopefully to take place at the end of June, July, we will see to strengthen the youth in agriculture forum. But Jimson, moving forward, having this revitalization, are you hoping to bring in some youth who were involved with Slafi, of course they have gone beyond that age, to bring them back as success stories, to really groom and let the new persons understand the real reason or objective of Slafi? Absolutely, well, I'm one of those living examples. Yes. I'm past that threshold and that's why I'm here now, lending my voice, lending to share with my success stories, with ICA, also, well, Slafi, also myself, and how the agency can help me. You personally, the same way they helped me to grow and develop my enterprise. So they are success, apart from you, there are other success stories. Almost all the heads of the ministry, I was just speaking to them and say to them, the chief vet right now was a Slafi executive member, Hannah, who is the head of research. So all of these persons who are there, they did not, at the time, suffer. So you, they are now in influential positions, so we expect their support as past members of Slafi to see to it that they pull through and let this happen for the youth, because the challenges are still the same. The problems we had, I'm looking at a report that was presented in 2009, on assessing the challenges of youth in agriculture in the Caribbean, they are still the same. Still the same. So we need, we cannot do this again. Do you want to? One of the points I want to elaborate on, Miss Eugene highlighted, finance for the youth in agriculture. This is one of the biggest hurdles. I'm still suffering from it. And I, in some sense, will, I'll preview due to my work really, due to my work as able to do some of the things I did. But there is no really support for the youth. Do we have the SLDB, the Development Bank? The banks don't want to head the youth. They don't want to invest in the youth. They don't want to, you understand? They don't want to give the youth the chance. And I think if those barriers can be broken, I think we can see more success in agriculture and more success in youth in agriculture. But I hope Miss Charles at SLDB is hearing that. But I've seen that youth economy is now also... Well, listen to the tone there. You see that one, I'm hoping that should take off. Salafi should find a place. I think that's fine to be there in the youth economy. I think that's the way to start. But it goes back to the financing aspect of it. Will there be financing opportunities for the youth? And I think if those opportunities come with financing, it will break many of the barriers that you have. I totally agree with you. Because the technology young people are interested in, it's not cheap. It's not cheap. We're working with women in Delce right now, the SAC project, and what we're about to put on an irrigation pilot. One of the things I want to see that the women can sit by the market and turn on the irrigation on the phone. Exactly, yep. So we would like to see another project we have because there's another guy in Denry, a desalination problem that we have in Saint Lucia. We have salt water intrusion. You have salt water coming into the farms in Saint Lucia, places that the salt water did not used to get. Correct. So can we look at a desalination system? We had a young man that had... From the lab. Right. He had this... Where is he now? No, he... Other countries have adopted him. And where are we? Yeah, and where are we? You know, the matter of food waste, do we need to be producing more food or do we can't be... Food security is easy. Now it's very, very key. And our ministers mantra on the Blackford Prospect is food and nutrition security. We had a round table discussion on Monday at Denry with CCG, Choice Cooperative Group. And it was discussing food security. You had young farmers there speaking of their challenges and their problems. But at the end of the day, so when you look at the focus, the approach that we're taking is the inclusive market system, understanding the wants, the needs of the consumer, ensuring that we understand the market and provide for the market. When COVID hit, what did people want? Everybody looked for zinc. So why don't we teach people to eat the foods that have this micronutrient? Well, I'll stop you there. We end the program. We'll continue again. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for being here. And I'm looking forward. This time, I hope Slaffy stays on top and there shouldn't be no drop. So I thank you very much for being here. So Iqa, take the bull body on and run with it. Thank you for being here. Yes, we are running. We have been watching, I recorded a move. Thank you for viewing the program. And I hope if it's a program that you can call in and get information from Iqa for this meeting tomorrow. Thank you again for viewing. I'm Philippe Sidney. Goodbye. I've been working so very hard on this blue bio trade project and I do not want to leave them out.