Twenty-eight-year-old farmer Dywany St. John of Wesley has been named the CARICOM Young Farmer of the Year 2026, following his selection by a regional panel of judges.
Mr. St. John will receive the award during the opening ceremony of the Twentieth Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA), scheduled for Sunday, September 27, 2026 in Trelawny, Jamaica.
The Northeast Region farmer manages a diversified 15-acre farm while serving as a Police Constable. His operation comprises four acres of plantain, three acres of root crops and eight acres of tree crops. He is also a livestock farmer, raising cattle, goats, sheep and pigs.
His interest in agriculture began at an early age under the guidance of his father, himself a former outstanding farmer. Over the past 12 years, Mr. St. John has built a productive and well-organised enterprise grounded in discipline, diversification and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
He supplies fresh produce consistently to the Dominica Export Import Agency’s Multi-Purpose Pack House and supports local hucksters and other market outlets. His reliability was previously recognised by DEXIA with the Consistent Supply of Fresh Agricultural Produce to the Multi-Purpose Pack House Award. He was also named the Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy in 2025.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. St. John’s farm combines short- and medium-term crops with perennial tree crops and livestock production. He applies sustainable practices, including the use of livestock manure to improve soil fertility, responsible water management and measures to reduce soil erosion and chemical runoff. His participation in the National Association for Youth in Agriculture (NAYA) and his collaboration with fellow farmers, agricultural extension officers and national marketing agencies further demonstrate his commitment to the development of the sector.
The award recognises Mr. St. John’s level of production, diversification, innovation, environmental stewardship and contribution to agricultural development and regional food security.
The Government of Dominica congratulates Mr. St. John on this significant regional honour. His success demonstrates the important contribution young farmers are making to national development and shows that agriculture can provide a viable and rewarding livelihood for Dominican youth.
