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An advanced era of agricultural training in Barbados began with the first cohort of 181 students at the Hope Agricultural Training Institute, HATI.
Speaking at the start of the St Lucy-based institution’s new school year, Director of the National Transformation Initiative, Dr Allyson Leacock, said Barbados must respond to the reality that the region imports more than 90 per cent of the food it consumes.
She urged students to lead the change by moving beyond traditional ideas of agriculture.
Dr Leacock also encouraged the students to protect their learning environment and continue developing their skills as agricultural technology evolves.
