CCRAF on the Road – Day Three: Drone Technology and Plant Propagation Training at Greencastle Agricultural Station
By Brent Simon
Day Three of the CCRAF on the Road – MSB Project (Antigua & Barbuda Chapter) unfolded at the Greencastle Agricultural Station, where the same cohort of roughly 30 agricultural science students from Jennings Secondary, Antigua Grammar School (AGS), and St. Mary’s Secondary continued their deep dive into practical, modern agriculture.
The day opened with a dynamic drone technology demonstration led by Mr. Itejah Simmons, who introduced the students to how unmanned aerial systems are reshaping farm management.
The session covered: aerial mapping and crop monitoring, identifying plant stress and disease hotspots, assessing water distribution, using drones for rapid field diagnostics, and demonstrating how data collected from drones supports smarter decision-making.
For many of the students, it was their first time seeing agriculture through a digital lens — a clear look at the future of precision farming in small-island contexts.
The objective was straightforward: to strengthen students’ understanding of innovative agricultural applications that support long-term food and nutrition security.
The second half of Day Three shifted from high-tech to hands-on as students took part in a plant propagation workshop facilitated by Mr. Victor Harris, Station Manager, along with Mr. Rennice Nicholas, Propagation Specialist, and the staff of the Greencastle Agricultural Station.
The students were equipped with foundational skills in several plant propagation methods.
During the session, they were introduced to techniques such as seed propagation, cuttings, air-layering, division, and preparation of propagation media.
Students practiced identifying suitable plant material, preparing cuttings correctly, and understanding the environmental conditions needed for successful root development.
The pairing of digital agriculture (drones) with fundamental horticultural skills (propagation) gave the students a rounded understanding of how traditional knowledge and modern technology work hand-in-hand.
By the end of Day Three, students had broadened their skill set in two very different but equally essential areas of agriculture — precision technology and plant production fundamentals.
The CCRAF initiative is proving an important point: when you combine knowledge, practice, and innovation, you build the next generation of resilient agricultural leaders.
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