Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs how he is encouraging young people to (i) stay in the farming sector; and (ii) see farming and agriculture as a potential career.
Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs: The College of Agriculture Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), through its delivery of education, knowledge transfer and innovation programmes plays a key role in educating people entering or currently working within the farming industry. Currently there is 1160 learners enrolled on agriculture education programmes at CAFRE, with knowledge transfer and innovation programmes delivered to over 13,000 people working within the NI agri-food industry on an annual basis.
During October 2024 I launched the Farming for the Generations pilot Scheme, which aims to raise awareness of the need for succession planning on farms to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the farm business and bring the next generation into the farm business.
Each year to highlight the wide range of job roles available within the agriculture industry, my officials at CAFRE host a careers event attended by agri-food businesses which promotes the wide range of opportunities open to CAFRE students enrolled on agriculture education programmes.
In additional CAFRE’s Student Engagement Team also promote opportunities in agriculture to school pupils, careers teachers and subject specific teachers in many of Northern Ireland’s 190 post primary schools.
CAFRE is also a support partner of the ABP Angus Youth Challenge programme which builds young people’s knowledge of agri-food production. Each year, CAFRE staff provide mentoring and curriculum support to finalist school teams.
To encourage new entrants into the industry open days are hosted at CAFRE twice per year, at which hundreds of prospective students and their families find out more about the opportunities to study programmes leading to careers in the agriculture sector.
ENDS
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