RADHICA DE SILVA
Security challenges have plagued the Youth in Agriculture Homestead Programme at Chatham, but with the Defence Force now providing security, the project is on track for completion by December.
This was revealed by the programme co-ordinator Aneshia Beach.
Speaking to Guardian Media, Beach said the Land Settlement Agency (LSA) has been developing the infrastructure necessary for the young farmers who will eventually work the land.
“This includes road networks, drainage, and electricity to ensure the area is fully equipped when the first cohort of farmers begins operations later this year. We are hoping everything will be in place by December,” Beach said. So far, the first batch of students have completed their training and have received their License to Occupy (LTO) but they will begin active farming once the homesteads are built.
Admitting that the project had faced security setbacks, Beach said the Defence Force had been assigned to assist.
“Security at the Chatham Dairy Farm has been a major issue, but now that the Defence Force is involved, we are confident that we can meet our timeline,” she added.
As the project progresses, Beach noted that the fifth group of young farmers is expected to start soon, with a total of approximately 1,000 new farmers brought into the programme over time.
Despite the challenges, Beach said the programme will benefit the country’s food security.
She said soon construction will start in another part of Chatham.
“The area was part of the Iros Forest, so it came with challenges, but the team has been working to ensure the site is well-developed and ready for farming,” she revealed.
By the end of the year, the first batch of young farmers will have access to 175 two-acre plots in Chatham, each valued at over $500,000. The government, through the LSA, will also construct 176 starter homes, valued at $242,571 each, for participants in the programme.
Beach said the goal is to provide young farmers with both the land and infrastructure they need to succeed.
Meanwhile, Youth Development Minister Foster Cummings said he was satisfied with the pace of the programme.
“This initiative is pivotal as it creates an avenue for generational wealth. Land ownership is a goal that many aspire to. It is something that we must inculcate into the minds of the young people. It is an investment in their children and future generations,” Cummings said.
And speaking at a recent distribution ceremony, Minister of Housing and Urban Development Camille Robinson-Regis said the new farmers will be at the forefront of reducing food loss, increasing crop yields, and improving market access.
Robinson-Regis explained that the infrastructure being developed at the Chatham site includes a water reticulation system, an electricity network, drainage conforming to the Ministry of Works and Transport standards, and recreational and retail spaces. The site will also include a five-acre model farm equipped with shade houses, livestock facilities, and hydroponic systems, all aimed at training young farmers in modern agricultural practices.
In addition to the homesteads in Chatham, Robinson-Regis said additional homesteads will be established at La Gloria Estate, Carlisle Estate, Talparo, and Toco.
Robinson-Regis urged the public to recognise the transformative potential of the initiative.
“This programme is not just about giving land; it’s about giving our young people the tools to transform agriculture in this country. By leveraging technology and sustainable practices, these young farmers will lead the way in creating a modern, efficient, and productive agricultural system,” she added.