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(a) The Department of Agriculture in an effort to promote sustainable agriculture shall collaborate with the Department of Education and the Board of Education to incorporate agricultural science courses in the curriculum at all grade levels, including kindergarten, by:
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(1) providing agriculture programs, through the school system;
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(2) providing significant opportunities of vocational education in agriculture; and
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(3) developing programs to counsel school dropouts and rehabilitation programs for juvenile delinquents, first-time criminal offenders, and those being released from the prison system by providing alternative programs, such as agricultural training camps and employment opportunities in the agricultural industry.
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(b) The Commissioner shall collaborate with the Department of Justice to create sustainable prison farms as a means of providing supplemental food to the prison and as an alternative means of rehabilitation in the prison system for the development of prisoners who are released into society.
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(c) The Commissioner, in conjunction with the University of the Virgin Islands and the Department of Education, shall establish programs that further assists in the development of future agriculturists who will provide for the continued sustainable development of an agriculture industry, and provide adequate training in agricultural sciences to grant agriculturists certification.
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(d) The Commissioner shall:
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(1) Conduct a program of incentives through a cost-sharing program;
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(2) Develop a program for assisting in the marketing of local agricultural products;
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(3) Maintain adequate livestock health services;
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(4) Develop a program, in conjunction with the University of the Virgin Islands Co-operative Extension Service, the Department of Education, and Department of Labor to encourage the processing of local agricultural produce and products;
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(5) Develop a program to assure a source of supply of forage and other resources needed for the livestock industry; and
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(6) Develop a program to make water available to farmers during times of drought.
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