by Eulana Weekes
St Kitts and Nevis (WINN): To promote food security and sustainability on the island of Nevis, the Ministry and Department of Agriculture launched the 2nd annual “Schools A Grow Competition” on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.
The participating schools are:
– Cecele Brown Integrated School
– VOJN Primary
– St. Thomas’ Primary
– Joycelyn Liburd Primary
– Elizabeth Pemberton Primary
– St. James Primary
– Ivor Walters Primary
– Maude Crosse Preparatory
– Nevis Academy
– Montessori Academy
The participating schools were each provided two mixed trays of seedlings to grow over an eight week period. Schools participating in the Greenhouse category received cabbage, tomato and celery seedlings while schools participating in the Outdoor Garden/Farm category received tomato, sweet pepper and lettuce seedlings from the Department of Agriculture.
The competition will conclude on Thursday 9th November, 2023.
The Ministry and Department of Agriculture-Nevis have translated global and regional commitments into action by implementing different agricultural initiatives to empower the youth. Apart from the Schools A Grow Competition, the youth are key benefactors from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Summer Job Attachment Programme, the Fishpot Making Workshop, and the various competitions at the Mango and Fruit Festivals etc.
Several young people have been promoted into key positions within the Ministry and Department of Agriculture and the Department also continues to make its various units accessible to students; be it a field trip or during any other organised event.
It has been discussed globally that youth involvement in Agriculture will help to ensure food security and sustainability. However, the challenge has been that youths have pessimistic perceptions about agriculture’s capability of improving their living standards.
In Nevis, the policy makers within the industry continue to create avenues for the youth to understand agriculture’s contribution to general economic growth from an early age.
