Increasing food security through backyard gardening, promoting sustainable agriculture, and encouraging healthier eating habits, are the aims of the Backyard Gardeners’ Network Initiative.
The newly launched initiative is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Forestry and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). “The Ministry of Agriculture is pleased to collaborate with IICA for this initiative, as we recognise this as one way to encourage food and nutrition security for all,” said Senior Agricultural Officer Lauren St Louis.
The agronomist also explained that this initiative “will give foods a shorter carbon footprint, while at the same time encourage healthier eating habits.”
The official launch of this new network of 30 persons included a practical training session on the important elements in the backyard garden, during which participants were able to share information and techniques. “This Backyard Gardeners’ Initiative was developed as part of a regional project by IICA. We hope this would increase food production in the backyard, by supporting members through training and demonstrations,” said Derek Charles IICA’s National Specialist.
Presentations during the first hands-on training were done by Dr Guido Marcelle, and 4-H Officer Melissa Tyson. Participant Gentia Alexander a market vendor, expressed elation to be a part of the network. “This will help me to grow my seasonings that I can sell,” she remarked. “For us single parents, it would help us to save a dollar. We can also start selling our products to earn a dollar to take care of our families,” said Annette Isaac, another member.
The launch of the network was done with a demonstration in St Andrew, on the plot of Pamela Courtney a successful backyard gardener. She implored members of the network to use the platform as a means of knowledge sharing and also shared her experience with backyard gardening. “Knowing where my food was coming from, and the career that I had, propelled me into backyard gardening,” she explained. “This has reduced the number of times I have had to go to the market because everything we eat comes from the backyard.”
As part of the network launch, members received a backyard gardener’s starter pack, with small tools that can be used in the garden, and will receive a certificate of participation. All members are part of a WhatsApp group that will facilitate queries and information sharing.
Ministry of Agriculture… ensuring food and nutrition security for all.
GIS
Obviously its common sense a good idea to grow some food if ……you have the land and theives will not steal your hard work and labour.
So why yet another Government program for something Grenadians already do by instinct?
Of course the true motive, is pushing the Fake man made Climate Change agenda and reducing Carbon nonsense. Carbon is a good thing for the Planet and for plant life…. its what makes them grow and what will be injected in that fancy High Tech Greenhouse the Chinese recently built in La Sagesse.
Absolute anti carbon nonesense like this statement….. “will give foods a shorter carbon footprint, while at the same time encourage healthier eating habits.”
Then they talk about Health and Food insecurity……well why are you wearing a Mask in the open air that serves no purpose, is not good for your health and looking at the pohros … yet more Big Belly men talking about Food Insecurity. Food insecurity? They need to either deliver that chile or go on a diet. Hahaha. But it just adds to the absurdity of the anti Carbon agenda.
Forget about Government, do what you can for yourself as many have managed to figure out in Grenada for decades.
Who in Grenada have empty land without a little peas or callaloo or some fig planted, and now need government to tell them what to plant.?
This is just another nonsense Zero Carbon box ticking exercise on the Keith Mitchell Climate Change Crusade.