Deaf students get greenhouse training

Twenty students with hearing impairments, who participated in the just-concluded climate-smart agriculture greenhouse production training programme at the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf (CCCD), are now equipped with the requisite certified skills to undertake agricultural engagements within their communities.

The 10-week programme, which was held at the CCCD in Knockpatrick, Manchester, was organised by the Rural Agriculture Development Authority (RADA) in collaboration with the Jamaica Red Cross.

The students were presented with their certificates during a graduation ceremony at the CCCD last Friday.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Franklin Witter, who was the keynote speaker, told the graduates that their newly acquired skills would be key in addressing challenges relating to food security.

He further said the training they received would have a ripple effect in their communities and the country, because farming is demonstrative of community well-being.

"This also signifies inclusivity in agriculture through the training received, as we seek to break barriers and inspire others facing physical challenges to join the agricultural realm. The skills you have acquired in greenhouse production are not just tools for agriculture, but also tools for life," Witter said, while encouraging them to use their knowledge to empower and inspire others.

Meanwhile, Witter underscored the need for adjustments in the approaches to farming locally in light of the challenges presented by climate change and concerns regarding environmental sustainability.

"The use of greenhouses plays a pivotal role in mitigating some of these challenges with the unpredictable and harsh weather patterns; they provide a controlled environment for year-round cultivation," he said.

The CCCD occupies 50 acres of arable land, much of which is used for cattle, pig and poultry rearing, and cultivations which are exported. Its lone greenhouse is used for sweet peppers, but the centre also grows cabbage, lettuce, pak choy and pumpkin.