STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1658
Honolulu, Hawaii
President of the Senate
Thirty-Second State Legislature
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 186 entitled:
"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND HAWAI‘I ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS TO EXPAND THE REVITALIZATION OF THE FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA AND 4-H YOUTH PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT PATHWAYS TO AGRICULTURE CAREERS IN HAWAII,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Education and Hawai‘i Association of Independent Schools to expand the revitalization of the Future Farmers of America and 4-H Youth Program to support pathways to agriculture careers in Hawaii.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Hawaii Cattleman's Council, Inc.; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.
Your Committee finds that the State imports more than eight-five percent of its food and is considered highly vulnerable to food insecurity. The State has since recognized this vulnerability and has initiated a major policy pivot towards food and agricultural self-sufficiency. Your Committee further finds that the current lack of young farmers and ranchers with the experience, skills, and ambition required to undertake the work of farming and ranching as a business and career poses a significant hurdle to vitalizing local agriculture. Future Farmers of America and 4-H offer students pathways to careers in Hawaii with companies and agencies that often resort to searching out-of-state for skilled workers and farmers due to the lack of local agricultural labor. Therefore, this measure urges the Department of Education and the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, in consultation with the University of Hawaii at Manoa Cooperative Extension, to expand the revitalization of the Future Farmers of America and 4-H youth programs and reestablish and strengthen pathways for youth to find careers in agriculture.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 186 and recommends its adoption.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,
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________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair |
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