Overview:
A new youth-focused farming workshop in Palau is planting seeds for the future, as students gain hands-on experience and exposure to agriculture in response to an aging farming population.
Hands-on training connects students to sustainable farming skills and future food security
By: Laurel Marewibuel
KOROR, Palau — “What makes this workshop truly pivotal is its focus on bridging the generational gap,” said Elena, director of the Taiwan Technical Mission farm, showing the efforts to draw young people into Palau’s aging agricultural sector.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment, in partnership with the Bureau of Agriculture, hosted the first “Young Farmers Training Workshop,” bringing together 22 students from Palau Community College, Palau High School, EBHS and Belau Modekngei School.
The three-day workshop aimed to expose youth to agriculture as a viable career path while equipping them with practical skills to support long-term food security.
“We’ve observed an aging population in Palau’s agricultural sector, and to ensure long-term food security, it is essential to inspire the younger generation to take the lead,” Elena said.
Participants received hands-on instruction in sustainable crop management, soil fertility and farm record-keeping with mapping. The training was led by Amber Johnson, a soil expert with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Felix Sengebau, an extension agent with Palau Community College’s Center for Renewable Energy.
Organizers intentionally grouped students from different schools into teams to strengthen collaboration and problem-solving skills.
“We deliberately mixed students from four different schools into teams, forcing them to step out of their comfort zones, network, and solve problems together,” Elena said.
The workshop culminated in a graduation ceremony attended by Ambassador Andy Kang-I Chen and Chief Aileen Mikel, where students presented their final projects.
Elena said the presentations reflected “impressive progress” over the three-day training, highlighting both technical understanding and teamwork.
Parent-Teacher-Faculty Association President Brenda Ngirmeriil closed the event with a cooking demonstration, showcasing how locally grown produce can be transformed into nutritious meals.
“A standout outcome was seeing the synergy created through collaboration,” Elena said. “We saw such progress in how the students demonstrated the skills they learned over the three days.”