Interns Get Hands-On Experience at Cades Bay Pineapple Fields by Tyreke G. Thomas-Horsford

On July 15th, 2025, interns from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Internship Program stepped out of the office and into the fields, visiting the Cades Bay Pineapple Fields for a day of practical agricultural learning. The visit was part of the Ministry’s commitment to providing young people with real-world exposure to the agriculture sector in Antigua and Barbuda.

The morning began with the interns joining the workers in removing weeds from around the pineapple plantlets that had been planted earlier in the year. With no tools needed; some interns wore gloves, while others used their bare hands to carefully pull the weeds away, learning the importance of keeping the young plants clear of competing growth to ensure healthy development. The experience allowed the interns to connect physically with the soil and understand the daily realities of field maintenance while affording them the privilege of contributing to the Pineapple Rehabilitation Programme.

After the weeding exercise, the interns were given the opportunity to venture further into the pineapple fields, where they received a brief tour showcasing the layout of the field and the growth stages of the Antigua Black Pineapple, which is one of the island’s treasured crops. To add a touch of enjoyment to the day, the interns were also allowed to pick mangoes from the trees nearby, this brought smiles and laughter as they enjoyed another fruit of the land.

This field visit strengthened the interns’ appreciation for agriculture while equipping them with hands-on experience in one of Antigua’s key industries in the making.