Portland schools to showcase talents at Parish Achievement Day

PORT ANTONIO – More than 45 schools in Portland will be showcasing their creative talents at the annual Portland 4-H Club Parish Achievement Day, to be held on Thursday, March 31, at the College of Agriculture Science and Education (CASE), at Passley Gardens, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

The event, which is being held under the theme: ‘Value added agriculture for youth transformation and entrepreneurship’, will be highlighting products made from pumpkin, and the protein gained from poultry.

In an interview with JIS News, Parish Development Officer with the Portland 4-H Club, Andre Anderson said each year focus is placed on a selected crop and a meat.  

“Since April of 2010, schools have been focusing on the planting of pumpkin and the rearing of chickens in preparation for this year’s event, and so far we have seen a lot of interest from the schools,” he said.

Mr. Anderson pointed out that the chicken rearing projects that the schools have undertaken have resulted in an increase in the protein diet of the students, and increased earnings for the schools.

Stating that the 4-H Clubs will be seeking to encourage entrepreneurial activities through these projects, Mr. Anderson said that, “we have brought in the Jamaica Business Development Corporation and they have been making a number of presentations to the 4-H Club leaders."

“These leaders have been receiving training on how to package their products properly to meet the required standards,” he added.

Mr. Anderson said he is pleased with the interest that the schools have shown so far. “We want to move these creative ideas to the supermarket shelves, as we seek to transform our youth through entrepreneurship,” he said.

Among the activities that will be highlighted during the day are the judging of cattle, budding and grafting of plants, and the display of value added products and dishes.        Presentations will be made by a number of organisations, including the JBDC, the Police Narcotics Division, Pesticide Control Authority and the Statistical Institute of Jamaica.                                              

Recent Prime Minister Youth Awardee and medical doctor at the Annotto Bay Hospital, Dr. Fitzroy Hamilton, will be the guest speaker.

By  LORNA WILLIAMS