$900,000 contributed to School Garden and Breakfast Programmes

Hon J.C. Hutchinson (2nd right), Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, presents garden supplies and tools to Marvalee Samuels, guidance counsellor at Lacovia Primary School, one of 15 participating schools in the National School Garden and Breakfast Programme in St. Elizabeth, at the launch of the Breakfast Programme on March 31. Others, from left, are Peter Thompson, Chief Executive Officer, Rural Agricultural Development Authority; and Nathan Samuels, Parish Manager.

Tools and supplies valued at $900,000 were presented to 15 primary schools in St. Elizabeth by Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Hon J.C. Hutchinson as part of the Nation School Garden and Breakfast Programme at the launch of the programmes in St. Elizabeth on Friday, March 31.
Addressing participants from the participating schools, Minister Hutchinson said that fencing would also be provided for every school garden that was not fenced and schools that had empty chicken coops would receive 25 broiler chickens and five bags of feed to revive their chicken rearing project.
Noting that 30% of the students attend school without breakfast and are therefore unable to learn, Minister Hutchinson reiterated the importance of having breakfast and refraining from drinking bag juice, which does not have any nutritional value.
“I am going to make sure that sugary drinks are eliminated from the schools within my constituency and replaced with fruit puree, which will be used to make fruit juice,” said Minister Hutchison. He further stated that in addition to the commercial blender that was donated to each school, a HACCP-certified incubator would be in place at the RADA St. Elizabeth office within three months to facilitate the processing of fruits into puree.
Minister Hutchinson implored the schools to use locally grown produce in their breakfast programme, adding that the Sydney Pagon Agricultural School would provide each school with milk and eggs.
Under the National School Garden Programme that is being spearheaded by the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, students will be trained in best practices and integrated knowledge in farming and each school garden will be used as a demonstration plot for farmers within the community.
Minister Hutchinson explained that the programme was for the development of the children and the community in which they lived and said that a committee, including representatives from the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, parent teachers’ association, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, business people and the Production Marketing Organisation, would oversee the operations of the programme to ensure its sustainability.
The minister expressed appreciation to the sponsors of the progamme, including Newport-Fersan who has adopted 13 of the school gardens islandwide and has donated $50,000 to each school, and all the stakeholders who have partnered with the Ministry to ensure the success of the programmes.
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