‘Your Ideas Can Make a Difference’: Minister Ratiram Inspires the Future of Agriculture at La Horquetta South Primary

Among the garden beds and fish tanks of the La Horquetta South Government Primary School, the next generation of Trinidad and Tobago’s farmers, scientists, veterinarians, technologists and agri-entrepreneurs is already taking root. Senator the Honourable Ravi Ratiram, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, joined students and staff today to launch the school’s Integrated Agricultural Science and Entrepreneurship Project, where children learn by planting, tending, building and growing.

Through school gardening, hydroponics, aquaculture, aquaponics and animal husbandry, students will get their hands in the soil, see how food reaches the family table, and discover that science, technology and business all have a place in agriculture.

Minister Ratiram stressed that the future of agriculture rests with young people, and that it must begin early, with a generation bringing knowledge, creativity and skill to the work of feeding the nation.

“Agriculture is about much more than a cutlass, spade or shovel,” the Minister said. “Modern agriculture combines science, technology, environmental care, marketing and business. Farmers can use sensors, drones and mobile apps to improve the way they grow food. Your ideas and creativity can make a difference.”

He described the project as a living classroom where science and mathematics come alive in the garden, and encouraged the children to value the farming knowledge in their families and communities, pairing it with what they learn in class to imagine new possibilities.

A guided tour of the school’s agricultural facilities showcased the progress already made and the hands-on learning still to come.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries remains committed to opening doors for young people in agriculture, helping them build the knowledge, skills and entrepreneurial spirit that Trinidad and Tobago’s food security will depend on. Every seed planted at La Horquetta South today is an investment in a more food-secure tomorrow.

 

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