THE Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the Ministry of Agriculture, yesterday, awarded the top 2013 Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) agriculture candidate. Guyanese Saudia Raffik, who also topped Caribbean students was to receive US$250, in the Ministry of Agriculture boardroom, at Regent and Vlissengen Roads, Georgetown, but was absent and her brother, Javed Raffik and father, Mohammed Raffik, collected the award on her behalf.
Executive Director of CARDI, Guyanese Mr. Arlington Chesney said it was a pleasure to be making the presentation to Saudia’s family, moreso because she is also Guyanese.
He recalled that the award was inaugurated in 2007 and the first was presented in 2008 and there are certain criteria that a student must attain to be eligible for it. Those include a grade one in Agriculture, grade two in Mathematics and English ‘A’ and grade one or two in another technical or general CXC subject.
Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, in brief remarks on the occasion, said he was happy for the Raffik family, too.
He went on to say that there needs to be more young people in the Agriculture Sector, since farmers and other officials are reaching the age of 60 years.

Venture out
Elaborating, he said the necessity is because most of the Agriculture students in the country do not always stay in that field but venture out into some other area of study.
The minister said he hopes that more students stay in agriculture and help develop the sector.
In an invited comment, Mr. Mohammed Raffik said he is proud of his daughter and expressed his happiness at receiving her award.
He also thanked the ministry and Minister of Agriculture and CARDI for awarding her. (Gabreila Patram)