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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Minister Griffin Addresses Exuma Backyard Farmers. (BIS Photo/Gena Gibbs)
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EXUMA, The Bahamas - Dozens of Exumians joined the Women’s Bureau of the Ministry of Social Services and Community Development in a Women’s Backyard Farming Workshop on November 27 in the Kettel Centre of the Exuma Foundation in George Town. The theme of the workshop was “Women and the Environment: Creating Partnerships for Sustainable Development.”
The workshop was part of “National Women’s Week” and one of a number of activities presented over the past week by the Bureau of Women’s Affairs of the Ministry of Social Services. The Women’s Bureau organized the Backyard Farming Workshop in collaboration with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), and the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Cooperation (BAIC).
Social Services Minister, Melanie Griffin, set out to speak to Exuma's women involved with the environment, who also love working with their hands. Minister Griffin said that women should be able to pass on skills to the next generation what we learned as children.
"Although farming is knew to Nassau, it's not new to residents in the Family Islands," said Minister Griffin.
"Backyard Farming is more than planting seeds. It's about taking control of your health and combating poverty."
Exuma Member of Parliament Anthony Moss said: "The government has been stepping in the right direction to remind Bahamians, young and old, to feed themselves." He added that he wanted to encourage Exumians to learn from the women already doing backyard farming.
Exuma Backyard Farming Vegetable Patch. (BIS Photo/Gena Gibbs)
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Women's Week 2015 hosted a series of events during November 23 to 27, which included Women & the Environment Panel Discussion on Monday; ‘Adaptation to Climate Change’ Webinar on Tuesday; Commemoration and Special Forum recognizing the United Nation’s International Day to End Violence Against Women, on Wednesday; a video documentary screening of “Womanish Ways, Freedom, Human Rights and Democracy” by Marion Bethel in recognition of the 1962 Anniversary of the Women's Suffrage Movement that yielded women’s right to vote, on Thursday; the Women's Backyard Farming Workshop in Exuma on Friday; and, then ending the week, on Saturday a symposium at Melia Cable Beach Resort in Nassau, under the theme "The Future We Want."
Representing the Bureau of Women’s Affairs were Christine Campbell and Lynn Symonette. Others of the team were: Catherine Booker, Exuma Foundation Ltd. representative; Shacara Lightbourne, National Technical Specialist, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture; and Shomekhan Cargill, Consultant, Agrotech.
After addressing the Exuma residents about the importance of farming, Minister Griffin declared the workshop officially opened.
© Copyright 2015 by thebahamasweekly.com
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