AN ANALYSIS OF TRAINING PRACTICES UTILIZED BY "THE AGRICULTURE NOW TRAINING UNIT" OF THE MINISTRY OF FOOD PRODUCTION FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR: A CASE STUDY IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

In 'An Analysis of Training Practices Utilized by The Agriculture Now Training Unit of The Ministry of Food Production for Development of The Agricultural Sector: A Case Study In Trinidad And Tobago,' studies from Africa, Australia and Texas, USA along with the Latin America and Caribbean were overviewed to provide a degree of structure and theoretical underpinning for this study. Additionally, contemporary literature on strategic human resource management, training, development and international best practices formed the foundation in selecting appropriate methodology in pursuing this research. Methodologies included a balance between positivistic and phenomenological philosophies slanting towards a more qualitative approach given the numerous social issues associated with the agricultural sector regionally and locally (IICA, 2009, 2010; MFP, 2012). Both primary and secondary sources of data were used including surveys, questionnaires, semistructured interviews, reports, journals and other appropriate literature. Professor Ken Julien (2009) states, "The focus has always been crops for export - whether its cocoa, coffee, sugarcane," he added, "if you are thinking in terms of developed country status and you look around the world, the countries that do hold the status, one important criteria is that they are reasonably self-sustained in producing food for their own uses. " Furthermore, FAO and ILO (2012) contend that training for employment is biased toward urban employment, with few rural training opportunities that effectively prepare youths for productive agricultural work. Generally, technology transfer and extension activities do not usually target 'y°un9 people, especially young women' (IICA, 2009; FAO and ILO, 2012). Review of the Agriculture Now Training practices reveal strategic fit with its agricultural training environment based on its requirements, resources and futuristic needs and practices employed for learning, development and mentorship. Ninety percent of APDP interns indicated that they thought of starting a business prior to coming into the programme. On the other hand, there is an increasing number of URP trainees that are desirous of starting their own backyard-home gardens versus working for farmers. Hence, this research signals an agri-entrepreneurship trend that is developing within the local agricultural sector. The programme takes into account the sectors needs, the farming community's needs and the interns needs, collectively enshrined in both programmes. Given the constraints and scope of the paper as it pertains to the CFCS, the focus will be mainly on the APDP component of the Agriculture Now Training. Hence, the following represents a brief extract of a larger body of research conducted by the researcher