Backyard Gardening Winners recognised

Twenty-two persons who engaged in crop production in the national home gardening competition were, on February 20, 2025, recognized and awarded when the the Zero Hunger Trust Fund held an official prize giving ceremony.

Winners received gardening supplies and tools; and the top three winners were awarded contracts as a bonus.

At the ceremony held at the NIS conference room, Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer, Colville King said that home gardening is a direct and practical approach to addressing food security.

Measures must be implemented to ensure that farmers, or individuals involved in cultivation are given the opportunity or support to do so, he pointed out.

Senior Technical Officer, Currel Thompson-Fergus said the success of the national home gardening competition is attributed to the Zero Hunger Trust Fund which made it possible for assistance to be provided to rural communities.

She spoke of being delighted with the outcome of the project as it gave individuals an opportunity to participate and produce food for their own livelihood.

Agricultural Officer and competition judge, Rodwell Charles, encouraged those who will be participants in the national home garden competition on April 2, 2025 to practice more effective backyard techniques. These include vertical farming, inter-cropping, composting, cultivating short term crops, and hydroponics.

Executive Director of the Zero Hunger Trust Fund, Safiya Horne-Bique said the Zero Hunger Trust Fund provided enormous support to the Rural Transformation Unit as it embodies the objective of building resilience and providing sustainability.

Minister of Agriculture, Saboto Caesar underscored that agriculture is the pillar of society, and “in order for us to strive nationally, we must focus on domestic improvements, specifically food security and crop production”. Minister Ceasar added that all lands should be utilized for small- scale or large-scale production to ensure a source of food production. (API)