National School Garden Programme Relaunched

The Government has relaunched the National School Garden Programme to boost the provision of breakfast in educational institutions across the island and demonstrate the importance of agriculture to students.

Under the programme, the schools will be provided with seeds, fertiliser, agricultural tools and irrigation systems.

“We also want to teach the young students that agriculture is good, it is important, and it is one where you can make money,” said Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson.

He was delivering the keynote address at the relaunch of the initiative on October 28 at the Mocho Primary School in Clarendon.

Mr. Hutchinson said that each garden will cost about $300,000 to develop and the Ministry will be working with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) to ensure the sustainability of the programme.

He said the gardens will serve as demonstration plots for the training of farmers as well as for providing them with technical advice.

Some 196 schools have been selected for the first phase of the programme.

Newport Fersan will be adopting 13 school gardens and providing nutrient management. The fertiliser manufacturer and supplier will also provide more than $2 million for a school garden competition that the Ministry will be organising.

Managing Director at Newport Fersan, Dennis Valdez, said it is “gratifying to invest in our youth”, and the collaboration with the Ministry will make a positive impact on youth in agriculture.