In a landmark move to boost local food production and youth engagement in agriculture, the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has entered into a public-private partnership with KARYBAL FARMS for the operation of the Montreal Greenhouse Park.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was officially signed by Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour, Hon. Saboto Caesar, and Karyll Balcombe, representative of KARYBAL FARMS.
Under the agreement, KARYBAL FARMS will spearhead vegetable production at the site, while the Ministry maintains access for continued technical collaboration. The MOU also includes a significant educational component, enabling agricultural students from secondary schools and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Technical College to use the facility as a learning ground.
During the signing ceremony, Minister Caesar described the Montreal Greenhouse Park as a “model of innovation and collaboration.” He further disclosed that, as part of a $27 million World Bank-funded programme, more than 40 shade houses will be constructed nationwide within six months, expanding the country’s greenhouse infrastructure and opening doors for youth participation in modern farming.
Karyll Balcombe thanked the government for the partnership opportunity and shared her vision of transforming the facility into a center for sustainable food production, job creation, and training—especially targeting youth and women.
The partnership marks a strategic step toward achieving national food security, enhancing agro-entrepreneurship, and modernizing agricultural practices across St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
