Central gov’t to train inmates for farming work

The initiative between the departments of Agriculture and Correction & Rehabilitation includes a technical and hands-on training program that will be rolled out gradually in correctional institutions and farms. Training will focus on coffee cultivation, ornamental plant production, hydroponic systems, and food self-sufficiency projects, officials said.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Puerto Rico government has launched an initiative aimed at addressing the ongoing labor shortage in the island’s agricultural sector through a collaborative agreement between the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation. The agreement will allow incarcerated individuals and those preparing to reenter the community to receive training for agricultural jobs.

The initiative includes a technical and hands-on training program that will be rolled out gradually in correctional institutions and agricultural farms. Training will focus on coffee cultivation, ornamental plant production, hydroponic systems, and food self-sufficiency projects, officials said.

Agriculture Secretary Irving Rodríguez Torres previously noted that the greatest challenge facing farmers is the shortage of available labor. As a result, his agency is evaluating the possibility of employing qualified incarcerated individuals to help meet agricultural demand.

Correction and Rehabilitation Secretary Francisco Antonio Quiñónez Rivera emphasized that the agreement will provide participants with educational tools and job skills that support a successful transition back into the community.

“This project represents a real opportunity for rehabilitation and social reintegration for incarcerated individuals and those in community reentry programs, providing them with technical and educational tools that promote self-sufficiency, workforce development, and a productive life,” he said. “We remain firm in our mission to rehabilitate with purpose, dignity, and concrete opportunities for the future.”

The program is supported by federal funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is part of a broader government strategy to strengthen the island’s agricultural production capacity and mitigate the ongoing labor shortage in the sector.