TUFTON

Within the next three years, all primary schools across the island should possess a productive school garden as part of the Ministry of Agriculture's thrust to boost productivity.

Agriculture Minister Dr Christopher Tufton made the announcement at Tuesday's handover of a $5 million cheque for the Jamaica 4-H Club's Goat Revolving Scheme, held at the organisation's head office on Old Hope Road in the Corporate Area.

Dr. Tufton said the newly appointed board of the 4-H Clubs has been mandated to ensure that every primary school in the island has a school garden by 2011.

"We are focusing on engaging more young people in agriculture and the 4-H Clubs will be challenged to expand our school gardening programme," said Dr Tufton.

The minister said young people are the necessary agents of change in the modernisation process of the agriculture sector. He noted that the current average age of a farmer is 50 and hence youth are needed for the continuity of the sector.

School gardens were once part of the culture of primary institutions by which children were socialised in the concept of self-reliance through farming.

Jamaica 4-H Clubs' executive director, Lenworth Fulton, said initiatives such as the goat revolving programme were a vital part of expanding backyard school gardens.

Programme expansion

He said the programme would be expanded within secondary and tertiary institutions islandwide that host a 4-H Club.

"From this programme, we will have vastly more goat farmers in this country," Fulton said. Goat rearing within schools was considered as it provides a ready source of income and boosts food security for the country. Between 2003 and 2007, the country spent approximately $328 million in foreign exchange on the importation of both goat and sheep meat, referred to locally as mutton.

Last year, more than $86 million was spent on imported mutton, said Dr Tufton. The Agricultural Credit Board funded the $5 million which was handed over to the organisation.

Some 120 young goat farmers are expected to benefit from this scheme. More than 40,000 young people across the island are members of Jamaica 4-H Clubs.