Mushroom Training Workshop

Amidst a pressing calling to amplify the presence of young males in the agriculture sector, the Ministry of Agriculture with funding by the Taiwan ICDF, collaborated with the Mushroom Collective to host a mushroom workshop targeted at vulnerable young males.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Rural Development, through the “Increasing Employment Opportunities for Vulnerable Young Males in Saint Lucia Through Agri-Business – Mushroom Production” project, joined forces with the Mushroom Collective to host a training workshop on Mushroom Production targeted at young males from the Boys Training Centre (BTC), the Centre for Adolescent Renewal and Education (CARE), and the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC).

The workshop covered theoretical and practical aspects, including mushroom biology, culture and spawn production, substrate preparation, harvesting, processing, food safety, and optimal growing conditions.

Head of the Department of Agri-Entrepreneurship and Climate Smart Agriculture at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC), Dr. Catherine McCann emphasized that the hands-on experiences in the field, allowed the students to actively apply the knowledge gained.

“What we see here is an opportunity for students to obtain some training in production of a commodity which we know theres a demand for in saint lcuia and could offer an opportunity fo rhythm to be involved in that value chian for mushroom production. So we are looking forward for the students being bale to have a grow house ont he farm at SALCC that could be run by the student sin coordination with staff at the farm so they can develop their skills and knowledge and maybe look at duplicating that as an entrepreneur going forward”

Deputy Director of Agricultural Services, Kemuel Jn Baptiste says the overarching objective is to empower these vulnerable young men with the skills necessary to replicate their learning, paving the way for them to embark on entrepreneurial ventures in the future.

“We anticipate that these boys will take that information, go back and establish their own production facilitaties. As one may well observe the investment is minimal. Thats an opportunity for income for them, for livelihoods, also an opportunity to ensure that they are gainfully employed in an enterprise that will bring them returns and keep them off the streets align with all the other social ills. Along with this, we’re looking at providing mentorship, partnering with us is the Bethel Empowerment Centre which will be providing sort of mentoring from the social aspect to help these guys in their walk of life. The mushroom collective will also be providing technical mentorhip”

With a clear vision and dedication, the “Increasing Employment Opportunities for Vulnerable Young Males in Saint Lucia Through Agri-Business – Mushroom Production” initiative aims to skillfully train 50 vulnerable young males by March 2024.