Papine High School Greenhouse to Boost Agricultural Training, Income Generation

The Papine High School greenhouse project is intended to equip students with skills in modern agricultural practices, while producing crops to serve the needs of the school and supply nearby institutions.

It will also provide employment opportunities and generate an income for students and community members, who will be engaged in greenhouse production.

The greenhouse, which includes a hydroponic system, was established through a US$25,000 grant from the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF).

Speaking at the recent launch, Principal of the St. Andrew-based institution, Leighton Christie, said the greenhouse will function as a practical learning facility as well as a commercial agricultural enterprise.

It will improve agricultural education, offering students practical training that will enable them to pursue advanced study, entrepreneurship, and employment.

“It will equip students with an understanding of modern agricultural technology, thereby guaranteeing their preparedness for the evolving agricultural sector,” Mr. Christie pointed out.

In addition, it will increase the supply of fresh, nutritious, locally-grown produce for both internal consumption and external markets, he noted.

Mr. Christie said the long-term objective of the greenhouse project is to create self-sustaining agricultural enterprises, expanding into food processing, and the training of future generations of students to become agricultural experts, who will contribute to building the sector and enhancing food security.

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is providing assistance to ensure that the goals can be achieved.

Student, Sue-Ann Barrett, said the greenhouse facility will motivate pupils to pursue farming.

“It will nourish the minds of our students, allowing them to think grander and know that agriculture can be and is a big deal,” she said.

Another student, Rahiem Marshall, said the project will “cultivate students with a sound understanding about the benefits of agriculture to the Jamaican society and economy.”

For Director with CCRIF, Mariame McIntosh Robinson, the greenhouse symbolises an opportunity for the students to learn, create and sustain.

She urged the students to take the lessons learned from the process of growing the plants to be patient in their personal development.

“Anything that is worth having, achieving, fighting for, will take hard work, dedication and persistence. All of us, no matter what you are pursuing, it comes because of your commitment and your resilience, so keep pushing forward,” she told the students.