Kingstown St. Vincent May 15, 2026-The Rural Transformation Unit in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has launched its first training session for the 2026 National Home Gardening Competition, with officials highlighting the programme’s role in strengthening food security and supporting household income generation.
The training session, titled “Vegetable Production and Livestock Management”, was held on Thursday at the Methodist Church Hall and attracted around 50 registered participants.
Organizers said attendees took part in both theoretical and practical sessions focused on agricultural best practices, including crop production, livestock management, land preparation, and recordkeeping.
Senior Technical Officer Currel Thompson-Fergus welcomed participants and said she was encouraged by the growing interest in home gardening across the country.
She outlined the competition’s judging categories, which include garden management, pest control, livestock management, crop health, composting, sustainability, recordkeeping, and the use of innovation and technology.
Mrs Thompson-Fergus also said preference would be given to organic practices in areas such as fertilizer and pesticide use.
Participants were told they would receive technical support based on the agricultural region in which they are located to help guide the management of their home gardens.
Mrs Thompson-Fergus said home gardening could contribute to improved household food security, reduce the country’s food import bill, and create opportunities for additional income.
Training during the session was led by several agriculture officials and specialists, including former Agricultural Assistant Andrea Latchman, Agricultural Assistant Rodwell Charles, Agricultural Extension Officer Shafika Andrews, Senior Agricultural Extension Officer Catherine Bonadie-John, Livestock Officer Duane Pipe, and Agricultural Assistant Mervette Simmons.
The National Home Gardening Competition is an annual initiative organized by the Rural Transformation Unit within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Transformation. Officials say the programme is aimed at encouraging households to grow more of their own food as part of wider efforts to improve food and nutrition security