Container gardening competition launched among Westmoreland schools

WESTERN BUREAU:

Westmoreland-based business operators Icon Importers and Distributors Limited and Growers Choice Organic fertiliser in partnership with the parish’s 4-H Club are aiming to spur interest in agriculture among primary level students through a container gardening competition.

“We are thrilled to announce that we will be sponsoring the establishment of this programme in 25 primary schools, providing them with all the necessary resources, including seedlings, containers, and fertiliser,” said Moses Chybar, director of Icon Importers and Distributors at the event’s launch recently.

He encouraged private sector leaders within the parish and across the island to play their part by investing in tangible projects to help the nation’s children achieve their life’s goals.

“Primary education certainly needs a lot of resources and I want to use the opportunity to call on other companies across Jamaica, not necessarily with a container gardening project, but something that can make a difference in our educational sector and our communities,” Chybar said. The company’s sponsorship of the competition is among activities to mark its 25th anniversary.

Pius Lacan, chairman of the Westmoreland 4-H Advisory Council said the Container Garden competition which is scheduled to commence in September and continue for three months, will see 125 students competing for trophies, other major prizes and gifts.

Among the criteria is that schools must be registered with the Jamaica 4-H Club.

“We are providing each school with nine containers in which they will plant and grow vegetable crops, consisting of one leaf vegetable, one fruit vegetable and one root vegetable,” Lacan said.

A panel of three judges will examine farming practices and the end products of the crops grown by the students.

Garfield Ewart, field services director at the Jamaica 4-H Club, lauded the Container Gardening programme as a win-win initiative for all stakeholders.

He noted that the 4-H Club national school garden programme is a key component of the country’s food security missions programme with which the new Westmoreland container garden competition aligns perfectly.

“At the primary level you might not get to a commercial level, but it’s a start to help students to understand the importance of agriculture,” Ewart said.

“It is not only in schools that we need containerised gardening, but also in our homes. We are hoping that the concepts and the skills that they will learn from this competition will be replicated in their homes,” he stressed.

As part of the prizes listed, organisers of the completion will sponsor an expanded container garden for the top three primary schools. In addition, the top three students will win for themselves mobile smart phones, with awardees selected based on their knowledge of the crop which they will be tasked to care for from seedling stage.The top 4-H Club leaders will also receive specialised gifts.