UTT Student, Nikita Samlal

There is a common misconception amongst many that the agricultural industry is male dominated.  

However, Ms. Nikita Samlal, student of The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), is prepared to debunk that myth and break the proverbial glass ceiling. Nikita sees herself as being equally competent to her male counterparts. With a long-standing interest in Agriculture which started at an early age, Nikita completed the Diploma in Agriculture in 2016 and seamlessly transitioned into the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Crop Science and Technology at UTT ECIAF Campus.  

Currently in her final year, Nikita has her eyes set on research with a focus on soil science and technology. 

Nikita firmly believes that Trinidad and Tobago is fully capable of realising its efforts for self-sustainability and food security, which in turn, can substantially reduce this country’s food importation bill. She further added that as citizens, we all must have an understanding and appreciation of our individual responsibility towards this goal. Nikita maintains that for this to be achieved, early intervention and proper education are required. 

It is with this in mind that Nikita has been motivated to spearhead initiatives, which focus on building awareness of the importance of Agriculture to the wider community. One such initiative is the Waking-up Agriculture Movement (WAM), a student-led community outreach group at UTT ECIAF Campus. As President of WAM, Nikita has led her team in conducting several educational sessions in primary schools, introducing students to farming practices and home-grown approaches to food security. Through a hands-on approach to the exchange of knowledge, the primary school students were exposed to recycling practices, soil preparation, planting of crops and fertigation. 

On a larger scale and to aid in efforts of ensuring food security, WAM also executed a collection and eradication drive of the Giant African Snail which is considered a destructive pest that is extremely detrimental to local vegetation and crops. For Nikita, being involved in these initiatives and activities have served to fuel her desire to launch a non-governmental organisation, with the aim of providing services and agri-educational programmes to local communities.  

Nikita credits her academic and extra-curricular achievements to the University’s faculty and support staff, who contributed significantly to making her time at UTT memorable. She even underscores that their dedication, commitment and support to students are unparalleled. Nikita is confident that she can meaningfully contribute to the development of the local agricultural industry and is not daunted by the fact that she is entering a field that is perceived to be traditionally male dominated.  

Through her work, Nikita intends to continue to advocate for the importance of Agriculture as a viable option for economic diversification in Trinidad and Tobago.