Agriculture and Marine Resources Minister Lawrence S ‘Larry’ Cartwright (left) congratulates volunteers in the community gardening initiative.
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Nassau, Bahamas -
New Providence’s Urban Renewal
Centres, primary schools and youth clubs have joined in the Ministry
of Agriculture and Marine Resources’ community gardening initiative.
They will identify and provide
growing spaces and staff for the supervision of projects where necessary.
The Ministry will provide technical
assistance, tools, soils, seeds and fertilisers.
St George’s Anglican Church
on Montrose Avenue and Claridge Farms on Cowpen Road will provide land
space.
The community gardening initiative
complements the backyard garden and schools gardens programmes.
“Since their beginning they
have been most successful in promoting well being, generating an interest
in food production, and developing skills and knowledge in growing food,”
said Minister Lawrence S ‘Larry’ Cartwright.
As the Bahamas imports an average
of $500 million worth of food annually, said Mr Cartwright, “it is
anticipated that these combined initiatives will also serve to reduce
the level of imports.”
The community gardening initiative
seeks to:
empower persons to supplement
their food supplies;
encourage self reliance;
stimulate social cohesion;
promote and develop gardening
skills;
beautify and enhance the natural
environment of neighborhoods;
reduce importation of certain
foods; and,
provide physical activities
for persons.
Realising that the success
of community gardening require the involvement of the volunteer sector,
said Mr Cartwright, representatives of schools and civic organisations
have been invited to formulate a programme toward that end.
“I trust that this initiative
will play a positive role in promoting a sense of belonging, personal
worth, and community togetherness,” said Mr Cartwright.
