The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries is to assist 196 primary schools in setting up vegetable gardens during the upcoming 2016/17 academic school year.

Portfolio Minister in the Ministry, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson says the government will be installing security fencing and providing inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, seedlings, as well as the necessary pesticides and water fixtures at all the participating schools.

“This school garden (programme) is to train young children. We want to train them from an early age, that they recognise that agriculture is something that you can make money from,” he said.

Mr. Hutchinson was speaking during a tour of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) offices in Catherine Hall, St. James on Thursday, August 11.

He said the school gardens will be used by the RADA extension services, as demonstration plots for farmers in adjacent communities.

This, he said, will circumvent some of the challenges faced by some farmers when demonstrations are done on private farms.

“But on top of that, everything from that school garden we want to know that it goes to the school to provide a breakfast programme. A breakfast programme because 30 percent of our children go to school without a breakfast,” he further stated.

Minister Hutchinson said the programme is aimed at improving students’ academic performance and their general health and well being.

Source: Jamaica Information Service