The Caribbean region is celebrating two rising agricultural leaders from the Commonwealth of Dominica, who have secured the most prestigious regional awards for young farming innovators this year. Dominica’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy recently announced that 29-year-old Ephraim Elijah Roberts from Castle Bruce has been honored with the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Young Farmer Award, while 28-year-old Dywany St. John of Wesley has been named the 2026 CARICOM Young Farmer of the Year.
Roberts collected his award on September 3 during the OECS Youth and Women in Agriculture Symposium held in Grenada. A lifelong advocate for agricultural resilience through diversification, Roberts has built a multifaceted farming operation that aligns with his core belief: that spreading production across multiple sectors creates stronger, more adaptable farms. His enterprise combines livestock rearing of goats, sheep, cattle, ducks and guinea pigs with cultivation of root crops, fruit varieties and high-turnover cash crops. He has also integrated beekeeping into his work, which not only generates premium honey as an additional revenue stream but also boosts pollination for his other crops, lifting overall productivity.
Roberts’ connection to agriculture stretches back to his childhood. He got his start in youth agricultural organizations, leading his primary school’s 4-H Club and participating in his local Scout troop. By secondary school, his passion and aptitude for agricultural science earned him an award for outstanding achievement in the subject. He went on to complete an Associate’s Degree in Agricultural Science, and later became an active member of Dominica’s National Association of Youth in Agriculture (NAYA), an organization dedicated to expanding youth participation and leadership across the national agricultural sector.
Today, Roberts works as an agricultural educator, working to reframe young people’s perception of farming as a modern, viable career. He introduces students to climate-smart, technology-forward farming practices, and promotes the industry as a sustainable, profitable path for young workers. In line with the official ministry statement, Roberts says his long-term vision is to inspire a new generation of young farmers to enter the sector, strengthen local and regional food security, build inclusive economic opportunity, and advance sustainable development for communities across the Caribbean.
St. John, the second honoree, earned his CARICOM title after a rigorous selection process by a regional panel of agricultural experts. He will officially receive his award during the opening ceremony of the 20th Caribbean Week of Agriculture, scheduled for September 27 in Trelawny, Jamaica. What makes St. John’s achievement even more notable is that he balances full-time service as a Police Constable with managing a 15-acre diversified farm in Dominica’s northeastern region.
Like Roberts, St. John has centered his farming model on diversification: his operation includes four acres of plantain, three acres of root crops, eight acres of perennial tree crops, and a livestock portfolio of cattle, goats, sheep and pigs. His interest in farming was nurtured from childhood by his father, a former award-winning farmer, and over the past 12 years, he has built his operation around three core principles: diversification, discipline, and adherence to Good Agricultural Practices.
St. John supplies fresh produce to the Dominica Export Import Agency (DEXIA) Multi-Purpose Pack House for export, while also serving local vendors and regional market outlets. His track record of reliable delivery has already earned recognition: he previously received DEXIA’s Consistent Supply of Fresh Agricultural Produce Award, and was named Dominica’s national Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year in 2025 by the Ministry of Agriculture.
St. John’s farming system combines short, medium and long-term crops with livestock production to create stable, ongoing revenue. He prioritizes sustainable environmental stewardship, using livestock manure to naturally enrich soil fertility, implementing responsible water management, and deploying targeted measures to cut down on soil erosion and chemical runoff. He is also an active NAYA member, collaborating regularly with fellow farmers, agricultural extension services, and national marketing bodies to strengthen the local agricultural ecosystem.
The CARICOM Young Farmer of the Year award recognizes St. John’s excellence across production, diversification, innovative practice, environmental stewardship, and his contribution to regional agricultural development and food security. The Government of Dominica has issued an official statement congratulating both Roberts and St. John, highlighting their work as models for how young people can drive progress in agriculture, youth empowerment, and food security across the Caribbean.