The Zero Hunger Trust Fund welcomed a donation of a wide range of seeds from the Still Kickin Charity
based in Canada today. Hundreds of West Coast packaged seeds were handed over to the CEO of the
Zero Hunger Trust Fund (ZHTF), Safiyah Horne-Bique at the Zero Hunger Trust Fund Conference Room.
The contribution will be used to bolster the National Food Security Drive – Seed and Seedling Distribution
initiative which is geared towards the promotion and advancement of Home and Backyard gardens in St.
Vincent and the Grenadines.
MInister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour, Hon. Saboto
Caesar said, “We want to ensure before the end of this year in every single backyard in this country that
you have some form of production.” Minister Caesar indicated “the country is currently engaged in the
process to reduce hunger and undernourishment,” and added that it is being done against the backdrop
of significant global increases in prices.
Minister Caesar expressed his elation with the donation made by the Still Kicking Charity, Executive
Director, Dwight Anderson who also made a significant contribution of seeds to the recovery efforts after
the eruption of the La Soufriere volcano. Minister Caesar emphasized that with the immense growth of
the Tourism Sector, the demand for food is increasing; and urged farmers to dedicate their efforts
towards that platform. The Agriculture and Rural Transformation Minister highlighted that the
development of more community markets that cater for the sale of fresh fruits and vegetables should be
pursued.
The Minister commended the Zero Hunger Trust Fund for the excellent work that is being done and drew
reference to close to eleven thousand, day old chicks (layers and Broilers) being distributed under the
programme within a month. The Minister indicated that over the next six months approximately 800
families in the country will be able to produce their own eggs. Minister Caesar revealed that cabinet has
approved seven thousand, five hundred (17,500) broiler and layers chicks each, and underscored that
poultry farmers who made payments will also be able to obtain chicks from this batch of chickens, which
is being procured from Gales’ Hatchery in Barbados.
Chief Executive Officer, Zero Hunger Trust Fund, Safiya Horne-Bique thanked the Still Kickin Charity for
their generous donation. The ZHTF CEO disclosed that checks will be made to backyard garden owners
who have already started to produce, to see what they have produced, how it has been going for them
and provide other support. Horne-Bique mentioned that gardening tools and kits will be distributed to
support ‘newbies’.
Director of the Still Kicking Charity, Dwight Anderson took the opportunity to make
recommendations to assist in the progression of the National Food Security Drive. Anderson noted that
with the help of Minister Caesar and others, there can be an establishment of an agricultural reserve,
“lands that are set aside for continuous food generation in the form of fruit trees and all other edible
plants or vegetables, as well as medicinally applicable vegetables and plants.” The Executive Director
reiterated that considerations of issues relating to global geopolitics and impacts…negative impacts
towards shipping must be made, since ‘anything can happen, and we might not be able to get the
prescriptions that we need.’ Anderson said, “focus again on home-based health, and food generation,
seed propagation and storage,” and alluded to a seed and food bank, and a long-term capacity food
storage programme strategically placed across St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Marketing Executive, Farmers Support Company, Alex Barnwell said, “this initiative is a step forward to
self-sufficiency, resilience and ensuring that every single Vincentian has a means to thrive even in
globally uncertain times and added, “we know what’s happening in our global economy, know what’s
happening in our global conversations and now is the time to be self-sufficient.”
The distribution of Seeds and Seedlings will continue here next week.