Agriculture Interns Receive Hands-On Training at Greencastle Station
Participants in the Ministry of Agriculture’s Summer Internship Programme received hands-on training in crop production, nursery management, field operations and agricultural administration during a visit to the Greencastle Agricultural Station on Friday.
The interns rotated through several practical learning stations designed to expose them to different aspects of modern agriculture.
They were introduced to the station’s work in propagating ornamental plants, fruit trees and seedlings using methods such as seed propagation, cuttings and grafting.
At the nursery, Agriculture Assistant Grantley and Supervisor Victor demonstrated proper soil preparation techniques, with interns sifting soil and filling nursery pots as part of the exercise. Another group worked with trainee Zulema to transplant seedless watermelon seedlings while learning about seedling care and plant propagation.
Field training focused on coconut tree management, where Agriculture Assistant Rennice taught interns how to identify common diseases and fungal infections, properly prune infected branches and understand the nutritional requirements of coconut trees. Participants also toured grafted mango and starfruit trees at the station.
Interns also took part in organizing and cleaning the station’s tool house, reinforcing the importance of equipment maintenance and workplace safety.
The programme extended beyond fieldwork, with Administrative Office Trainee Shanice introducing participants to record-keeping procedures, including timesheets, registers, departure records and basic salary calculations, highlighting the administrative functions required to operate an agricultural station.
The visit concluded with team presentations summarizing what participants learned throughout the day. Team Grow won the presentation competition, followed by Dynamic 7 in second place, Seven Sparks in third and Agriculture on the Go (AOTG) in fourth.
The Greencastle Agricultural Station visit forms part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Summer Internship Programme, which aims to provide young people with practical agricultural experience while encouraging careers in the sector.
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