Youth and Farmers Lead Charge for Resilient Agri-Future

BASSETERRE: At the 19th Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA2025), held Sept. 29 to Oct. 3 in St. Kitts and Nevis, the Caribbean Climate Responsive Agriculture Forum (CCRAF) hosted two pivotal sessions: “Next-Gen Agriculture Leaders: Fueling Change … Transforming the Sector” and “Farmer-Led Innovations: Reducing Talk… Increasing Action.”

The “Next-Gen” session featured agricultural studies students Adrian Wilkin, Elvette Parry, and Nandanie Persaud, who shared innovative ideas like AI-driven crop forecasting to transform Caribbean agriculture. Their focus on technology highlighted youth’s role in addressing regional food security challenges.

In the “Farmer-Led Innovations” session, Antiguan youth farmer Michael Joseph showcased practical solutions such as rainwater harvesters, community seed banks, and agroforestry models. These actionable strategies emphasized resilience and efficiency, urging less discussion and more implementation to drive agricultural progress.

Held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, these sessions underscored the power of combining youthful innovation with farmers’ practical expertise to strengthen Caribbean food systems.