4-H Clubs Promote Sustainable Agriculture

Students and teachers from various schools across Kingston and St. Andrew recently participated in the St. Andrew 4-H Clubs Parish Achievement Day held on the grounds of the Shortwood Teachers’ College, under the theme: ‘Promoting Sustainable Agriculture – Impacting Climate Change’.

The participants received prizes for: animal care, food preparation, public speaking, and crop rearing, among other achievements.

The schools included: Mount Fletcher Primary, Golden Valley Primary and Infant, Stella Maris Preparatory, School of Hope, Oberlin High, Mona Heights Primary, Abilities Foundation, Red Hills Primary, New Day Primary, and Red Hills Basic.

Guest speaker at the event, National Youth Ambassador of Jamaica, Marketing Manager of Junior Achievement Jamaica, and past student of Ardenne High School, Paul McFarlane, lauded the work of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs. He said the agricultural sector should be preserved, as it contributes to 20 per cent of the island’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and provides employment.

Mr. McFarlane also encouraged a balance between sustainable agriculture and agricultural activities, which impact climate change.

He said fewer chemicals should be used in growing crops, and farmers should ensure that produce is of good quality, hence making the sector more lucrative.

Director of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs Board, Clifton Grant, who brought greetings on behalf of Chairman of the Board, Senator Norman Grant, stated that, “The Jamaica 4-H Clubs is growing from strength to strength because, in one year, the number of clubbites has grown from over 60,000 to over 80,000”.

The Jamaica 4-H Clubs has been hosting achievement days islandwide since February. These events will culminate on Friday, April 11, at the Denbigh Show Grounds in Clarendon, with the National Achievement Day, involving all Clubs.

Sponsors of the St. Andrew 4-H Clubs Parish Achievement Day include: TIP Friendly Society, Emkay’s Sports and Trophy, Singer, Wallenford Coffee Company, Candice Rochester, and Chairman of the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, Senator Norman Grant.

The agencies which participated are: the Child Development Agency, Jamaica Information Service, Rural Agricultural Development Authority, Consumer Affairs Commission, the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce’s’ Food Storage and Prevention of Infestation Division, Coffee Industry Board, COK Credit Union, Jamaica Constabulary Force, National Housing Trust, Social Development Commission, Coconut Industry Board, and Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management.