Students Grow Food in School Yard

School gardening and garden-based education can play a role in improving the nutritional behaviour of young gardeners.

Today, (Friday 23rd February, 2018) Prime Minister Dr the Hon. Keith Rowley visited the Carenage Girls’ Government Primary School and the Diego Martin Girls’ RC School to get a first-hand look at the kitchen gardens created by the students who are participating in a pilot School Gardening Project.

Under this programme, students will be taught to grow nutritious green leafy vegetables, fruits and spices in containers, ground beds and hydroponic grow systems.

The ultimate goal is to create, facilitate, and stimulate the interest of future farmers by providing the launching pad for young ‘agri-preneurs’. This measure is vital to building food security in Trinidad and Tobago and will also have a positive economic impact.

The produce from the students’ gardens will be used in the school feeding programme or sold at the school gate to teachers, parents and members of the community.

Primary schools in the Diego Martin West district were selected to pilot this initiative which will later be adopted by primary schools throughout Trinidad and Tobago.