A group of young people from the Villalba Juvenile Institution began a new learning opportunity through Agro Edu: Manos para el Campo, an initiative of the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture. The program aims to develop skills in agriculture, barismo, and agronegocios, with a focus on coffee production.
The first phase, 'Cultivando Futuro', started at Hacienda Moraika in Orocovis, where participants learned about the process of growing coffee and the work involved in bringing it to market. The goal is for the young people to identify various possibilities within the coffee industry's value chain, from agricultural work to preparation and commercialization.
The Department of Agriculture's initiative seeks to expand employment, entrepreneurship, and reintegration opportunities for these young people through educational experiences. The visit to Orocovis was just the beginning of this process, which will continue to incorporate different areas of the coffee industry.