Education and Training for Rural People

1. Education and Training for Rural People IICA”s Experience UNA MAY GORDON IICA REPRESENTATIVE IN SAINT LUCIA AND THE ECS May 19, 2006 Office in Saint Lucia

2. Structure of Presentation • Basis for action in the region • Determinants of Success • Responses with two simple case studies • Lesson learned Office in Saint Lucia

3. “It is in the agriculture sector that the battle for long-term economic development will be won or lost” -Gunner Myrdal, Nobel Laureate in Economics Office in Saint Lucia

4. Basis for Action • Agriculture and agriculture production and productivity are the bedrock of the rural milieu • General level of agriculture is low in technical knowledge, business organization and management efficiency • If these continue it would be impossible for agriculture production to provide even the essentials of life for the growing population Office in Saint Lucia

5. Examine character of education delivered in the region and in particular for agriculture Examine character of training delivered in the region and in particular training for agriculture and agribusiness development ERP- Determinants of Success Office in Saint Lucia

6. Examine character of rural population and the rural milieu Level of education Level of literacy and numeracy Scope for education and training Examine character and development of agriculture (60’s -00’s) ERP- Determinants of Success Office in Saint Lucia

7. There are serious disconnections between the education and training being delivered and the character of the rural milieu Resultant effect Movement of rural population away from agriculture Education for Rural People Office in Saint Lucia

8. Key questions to ask and to be answered Should education be about sustainable agriculture development OR Should education be for sustainable agriculture and rural development Education for Rural People Office in Saint Lucia

9. CASE Studies 1. Caribbean Council of Higher Education in Agriculture (CACHE) (Formal) • Creating entrepreneurs -building and empowering institutions through training (non-formal) - CAFY - CANROP - CABA Office in Saint Lucia

10. CACHE • 1996 CARICOM Heads decided on the Regional Transformation Programme for agriculture, • IICA specifically mandated, to participate in the sub-programme on Human Resource Development • Programme was to be led by the University of the West Indies Office in Saint Lucia

11. CACHE • In November of 1997, IICA brought the official representatives of eleven institutions of higher education in agriculture in the Caribbean, to a meeting in the Dominican Republic, Office in Saint Lucia

12. CACHE • The Caribbean Council of Higher Education in Agriculture (CACHE) was formally launched as a non-profit organization, committed to fostering human resource development for sustainable transformation of agriculture in the Caribbean Office in Saint Lucia

13. CACHE • CACHE’s agenda focus on aspects related to • quality and improvement of the educational programs for agriculture • institutional strengthening through cooperation amongst institution members, • promoting and facilitating models and systems for self-evaluation and accreditation programs • establishment of a regional program for evaluation and accreditation as well as training a cadre of specialist throughout the region Office in Saint Lucia

14. CACHE Aimed to achieve the enhancement, development and support for tertiary education for agriculture and to promote academic excellence. Most Successful collaboration amongst Members Institutions. • “Cooperative Masters Programme in Natural Resource Management, jointly implemented by the University of West Indies (UWI) and Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Ureña (UNPHU), from Dominican Republic. Office in Saint Lucia

15. CACHE Aimed to achieve the enhancement, development and support for tertiary education for agriculture and to promote academic excellence. Office in Saint Lucia

16. CACHE IICA continues to support CACHE providing technical, logistic and financial support when necessary while acting as the official executive secretariat of the organization Office in Saint Lucia

17. Creating Building and empowering organizations and networks • Caribbean Agribusiness Association (CABA) • Caribbean Agriculture Forum for Youth (CAFY) • Caribbean Network of Rural women Producers (CANROP) Short term training aimed at changing mindset, creating entrepreneurs, and promoting agribusiness Office in Saint Lucia

18. Building and Empowering Institutions • Short term training • Targeting agri-business personnel extension officers women and youth • Tailored to needs at country level • Use national and regional facilitators • Demonstrated by best practices at all levels • Simple illustrated resource material • Local partnership to maintains continuity Office in Saint Lucia

19. Building and Empowering Institutions • Short term training • Agribusiness management • ICT/computer training • Basic Accounting • Cash Flow Management • Project identification and management Office in Saint Lucia

20. Building and Empowering Institutions • Short term training • Priority setting • Group dynamics • Organizational development and management • Leadership • Literacy and numeracy Office in Saint Lucia

21. Building and Empowering Institutions Results (5years) • Jamaica, Guyana, OECS member countries - >700 persons trained • Created, strengthened and continue to support the development of 3 networks Office in Saint Lucia

22. Final thoughts • Clearly we recognize that simply educating people to higher levels is not sufficient for creating sustainable societies • Greater effort is needed to bridge the gap between the formal and non-formal system • Education and training goes hand in hand • Partnership at all levels is one key to success Office in Saint Lucia

23. Final thoughts Networks provide a mechanism for initiation, enhancement and continuity and follow-up Office in Saint Lucia