A new capacity-building initiative focused on empowering youth in agribusiness has kicked off in Dominica, bringing together multiple local and international partners to expand access to practical agricultural training. The 20-week Farmer Field School program, a collaborative venture between Dominica’s Division of Agriculture and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), opened its official session on October 9, 2026, at the Dominica–China Agricultural Science Complex.
The first cohort of the program draws 15 young participants from the National Association of Youth in Agriculture (NAYA) based in Dominica’s North Agricultural Region, who will engage in five months of immersive, on-site learning. Unlike traditional classroom-focused agricultural education, the Farmer Field School model centers on hands-on skill-building, designed to directly translate learning into on-farm results.
Over the course of the program, participants will build core technical proficiency across a range of modern sustainable production practices. Training modules cover key areas including both controlled-environment greenhouse cultivation and open-field vegetable growing, hydroponic production systems, integrated crop management, and industry-standard good agricultural practices that align with global food safety and sustainability norms.
Beyond technical farming skills, the curriculum also prioritizes agricultural entrepreneurship training. This component is designed to help young farmers connect their technical knowledge to market opportunities, guiding them to develop viable, profit-generating business ventures from their agricultural work.
Instruction is delivered by a diverse team of experienced experts, including extension officers from Dominica’s Division of Agriculture, technical specialists from IOM, seasoned commercial farmer Jeffrey Bruney of Kubuli Farms, and advisors from the Chinese Agricultural Technical Mission. This multi-stakeholder teaching approach combines local practical experience, international development expertise, and established agricultural technical support to deliver a well-rounded learning experience.
The core long-term goal of the initiative extends far beyond skill development: organizers aim to reshape young people’s perception of agriculture, framing it not as a declining legacy industry, but as a dynamic pathway to formal employment, independent business ownership, and long-term sustainable livelihoods. By exposing the next generation of farmers to innovative, sustainable production methods and business strategies, the program works to strengthen Dominica’s agricultural sector from the ground up, fostering a new cohort of competitive, forward-thinking agricultural entrepreneurs.
As participants begin their training, the program is anchored in four core guiding principles: learning, personal and professional growth, industry innovation, and entrepreneurial enterprise, all aimed at growing young people’s long-term engagement and success in Dominica’s agricultural economy.