LAUNCH AND POLICY DIALOGUE

REGIONAL FAO-IFAD ProjectSTRENGHENING DECENT RURAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

FOR YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN IN THE CARIBBEAN

7 - 9 September 2015 Bridgetown, Barbados

Status of youth employment and participation in the agricultural sector in St. Lucia”

Present by Dr. Felix JariaDirector of Agriculture

“There is enough land, water and human capacity to produce enough food for a growing population over the next 50 years”

Presentation Outline

Definition of Youth

Statistical information

What are the policy environment

Youth Policy

Youth in sectorial policies

Sector programmes involving youth in agriculture

Challenges for youth in agriculture

Definition of Youth

Youth as define by the census Ranges between the ages of 15-29

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Statistical Data

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 160,000

164,000

168,000

172,000

176,000

165,595

168,115169,115

172,811 172,572

Household Population

Years

Popu

latio

n

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 116,000

120,000

124,000

128,000

132,000

136,000

140,000

125,717

130,480

133,205

137,535 136,791

Population >= 15 years

Years

Popu

latio

n

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 -

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

67,70271,016

74,339 74,844 74,325

37,370 37,72040,079 40,189 41,335

30,33233,296 34,260 34,655 32,990

Employed Labour ForceT Employed LF Male LF Female LF

Years

Empl

oym

ent

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 -

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

17,604.019,098.0

20,267.0

22,774.623,960.9

9,047.0 8,980.0 9,659.010,900.3 10,892.3

8,557.0 10,118.0 10,608.0 11,874.2 13,068.5

Unemployed Labour Force

Total UE Male UE Female UE

Years

Une

mpl

oym

ent

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 -

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

85,30690,114

94,606 97,618 98,286

46,417 46,700 49,738 51,089 52,228

38,88943,414 44,868 46,529 46,058

Labour ForceTotal LF Male LF Female LF

Years

Labo

ur F

orce

Labour Force

Labour Force = Employed Labour Force + Unemployed

2010 2011 2012 2013 20140%

10%

20%

30%

21% 21% 21%

23%24%

19%19%

19%21% 21%

22%23% 24%

26%

28%

% Unemployed

% Unemployed % Male UE % Women UE

Year

% U

nem

ploy

men

t

% Unemployment

% Unemployment = Unemployed X 100 / Labour Force % Labour Force Participation = Labour Force X 100 / Population 15 years and over

2010 2011 2012 2013 20140%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

34% 35% 34%

40%42%

% Youth Unemployed

Year

% U

nem

ploy

men

t

Youth Unemployment Rate

Youth Unemployment Rate = Unemployed Youths as a percentage of the Youth Labour Force

2010 2011 2012 2013 20140%

20%

40%

60%

80%

52% 54% 56% 56% 57%

68% 69% 71% 71% 72%

Labour Force as % of Population

LF % Tot P LF % P>15

Year

Labo

ur F

orce

% Labour Force

Labour Force Participation Rate = Labour Force X 100 / Population 15 years and over

15-1920-24

25-2930-34

35-3940-44

45-4950-54

55-5960-64 ≥65 0

2000

4000

6000

UNEMPLOYED LABOUR FORCE BY AGE 2010-2014

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Age Range

Une

mpl

oym

ent #

2010 2011 2012 2013 20140

2000

4000

6000 Unemployed Labour Force By Age

15-1920-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-4950-5455-5960-6465-69

Une

mpl

oym

ent #

15-1920-24

25-2930-34

35-3940-44

45-4950-54

55-5960-64 ≥65 0

1000

2000

3000

UNEMPLOYED LABOUR FORCE BY AGE (male)

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Age Range

Une

mpl

oym

ent #

2010 2011 2012 2013 20140

1000

2000

3000 Unemployed Labour Force By Age (males)

15-1920-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-4950-5455-5960-64≥65

Une

mpl

oym

ent #

15-19 20-24

25-29 30-34

35-39 40-44

45-49 50-54

55-59 60-64

≥ 650

1000

2000

3000

UNEMPLOYED LABOUR FORCE BY AGE (Women)

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Age Range

Une

mpl

oym

ent #

2010 2011 2012 2013 20140

1000

2000

3000

Unemployed Labour Force By Age (Women)

15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 ≥ 65

Une

mpl

oym

ent #

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Youth Policy

Youth PolicyNational Youth Policy (NYP) in Saint Lucia.

It has been in place since 2001

No budget for implementation of NYP

No implementation plan for the current NYP

Currently Secured financial and technical support of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London to review the current NYP

Youth PolicyNine months consultancy to review the current NYP with the objective of developing a more relevant and proactive policy.

Rural youth is mentioned in the current NYP

Not sufficient attention was paid to this sector as well as youth in Agriculture.

Welcome any input towards this revised current NYP.

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Youth in sectorial policies

MOA -Youth in sectorial policiesBAM

Agri-enterprise for youthAgri-enterprise facilitationYouth Agri-entrepreneurial Programme

MOAPeri-Urban GardeningFarmer Certification programFarmer field schoolNational Agricultural Policy 2009-2015 –ends

Sept.Opportune time to focus on youth

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Sector programmes involving youth in

agriculture

MOA -YOUTH AGRI-ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROJECT (YAEP)

The main objective of the project:to establish a incubator program geared at promoting the involvement of 150 youth in agriculture enhance the adoption of technological advancement and competitiveness of the island’s agriculture.

Specific ObjectivesTo assist 150 young people between the ages of 18-35 years to procure:

technical, financial and other capital support to establish agricultural enterprises.

Activate the production of a range of agricultural crops on approximately 1,435 acres of over the next three (3) years,

To strengthen the linkage between tourism and agriculture.d) To introduce a land use system in St Lucia that affords succession and long term agricultural development.

Specific ObjectivesIncrease the number of commercialized farms by a further 150 to the national total,

Improve infrastructure to facilitate production and marketing of the produce from the beneficiaries,

Introduce a mentorship programme for youth agri-preneurs,

MOA - Farmer Certification Program

This activity is in collaboration with S.L.B Standards / the marketing unit / Extension Division Six week training session Six Areas of Training

Marketing Production Scheduling/ farm record keeping Pest Management / Safe use and application of pesticide GAP / Worker safety & hygiene/ Food safety & Hygiene Post Harvest Handling Cooperatives

Request the inclusion of Water resource management

Agro- Enterprise Facilitation

Facilitate rural employment Create opportunities along selected agri-value chains through agro-industrial processing and servicesEstablish a network of agricultural enterprise incubators on the island

potential agro-processors will have access to facilities develop or enhance production processes and products according to international food safety standards.

Farmer Field School

The Farmer Field School (FFS) is a group-based learning process used by a number of governments, NGOs and

international agencies to promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Work has been done in the following crops:

Farmer Demonstrations

Inter American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture -IICA

1. Primary development objectivesA. Creation of sustainable livelihood options for youth in agricultureB. Support youth enterprise development (entrepreneurship) through capacity building, resource mobilization and technical supportC. Promote strategic linkages between agriculture, education and nutrition in demonstrating agriculture's importance to sustainable development and the achievement of development objectives such as food and nutrition security

Inter American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture IICA

2. Types of actionsSupport to the St Lucia Agricultural Forum for Youth (SLAFY) and the Caribbean Agricultural Forum for Youth (CAFY)Youth enterprises:

Eastern Timbers (producing sustainable charcoal products); Algas Organics (Sargassum seaweed based bio-fertilizer); seedling production; crop and livestock farmers;apiculturists;

Inter American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture IICA

2. Types of actions (Continues)Helping Out Our Primary and Secondary Schools (HOOPSS) –

promoting school farms that reinforce/improve agriculture curriculum, provide revenue to students contribute to school meals programmes

Learning experiences and advocacy Through participation in regional and international dialogues on agriculture including the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA), etc.

SLAFY

SLAFY – St. Lucia Agriculture Forum For YouthEstablished in June 2002Local chapter of a regional coordinating body – CAFY

Caribbean Agriculture for YouthAims

to be a key mechanism for the involvement of youth in Commercial agricultureTo share experiences and knowledgeForster involvement in policy making and decision makingTo promote sustainable development of the agricultural sector

SALCC

Tertiary educationTraining of Youth at the

certificate, DiplomaAssociated degree

OECS and FAO

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Challenges for youth in

agriculture

Main challenges for youth in agriculture Lack of confidence shown by Government in the

agricultural sector in general

Lack of dedicated programmes to encourage and support youth involvement in agriculture,

Lack of capital and technical support for young farmers,

No mentorship programme for young agro-entrepreneurs,

Lack of technological innovations and adoption among the existing farming community as a vehicle to attracting and generating interest among the youth,

Main challenges for youth in agriculture

Shortage of academically trained and proficient farmers,

limited access to land;

inadequate access to financial services;

limited access to markets;

Difficulty in getting jobs in Agriculture – Public and Private sector

and limited involvement in policy dialogue

THANK YOU