The new Farming and Fishing Gateway Training Initiative was launched with 238 expressions of interest for just 20 spaces in the first training cohort.

Minister of Training and Tertiary Education Sandra Husbands disclosed the numbers on 13 November 2025 at the launch held at the Barbados Fisheries Division, describing the response as a strong signal that Barbadians were ready to re-engage with land and sea as genuine pathways to economic independence.

Husbands told attendees that the launch marked “the beginning of a journey” to reshape agriculture and fisheries into modern, respected and profitable sectors.

“Across the world, countries are recognising that without food sovereignty or food security, we cannot truly say we are independent. The truth is, if a major hurricane wipes out Miami, Barbados would find itself in a position where it could not feed its people. It is that vulnerability that has to be addressed,” Husbands said.

Threat to food security

She explained that global supply disruptions, rising prices and the mounting impacts of climate change were already threatening the island’s ability to feed itself.

“The global disruptions of recent years, which have resulted in rising prices, have made Barbadian lives very uncomfortable. Many Barbadians complain about rising food costs but this is associated with shipping costs rising astronomically,” she said.

“Climate change will affect fish catches. It is already affecting our agricultural production. So we have become very vulnerable and what gets onto our tables to feed our families is going to be affected by all of these factors.”

The minister explained that the training initiative was designed to respond decisively to those challenges by giving Barbadians access to new skills, new techniques and new business opportunities.

“Through the Farming and Fishing Gateway Initiative, we’re going to be opening doors of opportunity for Barbadians of all ages, experienced and new, to participate meaningfully in feeding the nation, creating valueadded products, thereby fuelling entrepreneurship and creating new industries,” Husbands said.

“This programme is about more than just planting the crops or harvesting the fish but about enabling Barbadians to have access to economic activity that they can make a serious living and sustainable livelihoods out of,” she added.

Husbands credited the initiative’s development to strong collaboration across Government and institutions, including the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Environment and Blue Economy, UWI’s Centre for Agricultural Research and Innovation, and technical training bodies. She singled out Chief Fisheries Officer Dr Shelly-Ann Cox for “helping in short order to pull together the fishing elements”, stressing that the programme’s fishing component would be “very exciting” for young people.

Calling the initiative not only economic but “a social mission”, Husbands said it was about restoring dignity to the work of producing the island’s own food, empowering communities, and improving health outcomes through access to fresh, local options.

The Aquaponics course was facilitated by Kristina Adams from Adams Aquafarm.

Students from the Aquaponics Course engaged in the construction of aquaponics units. Photo credit: Kodi Edwards