First Peoples kick start GrowTrinbago initiative

THE FIRST PEOPLES, descendants of the country's first farmers, were on Saturday the first community to receive free packages of seeds when the Ministry of Agriculture launched GrowTrinbago – an initiative intended to encourage more home-owners to grow their own food.

The launch took place at Calvary Hill, which is regarded as the home to indigenous peoples of Arima.

Along with the First Peoples, the first set of packages were distributed to Member of Parliament (MP) for Arima Anthony Garcia, Arima mayor Lisa Morris-Julian and councillors of the Arima Borough Corporation.

With the seeds and a guide to care for the plants, the seed package could yield about 48 ears of corn; 10lbs of melongene per tree over three months; 10 ochro per tree per week over three months; eight pounds of bodi over a one-month; five pounds of pigeon peas per tree over two months; and approximately 30lbs per of pumpkin per plant over a one-month period.

Agriculture minister Clarence Rambharat announced that from Monday, seeds and booklets on planting will be distributed by MPs and local government councillors to distribute to households in their respective communities.

Rambharat first spoke about the initiative last month, saying that 50,000 households across the country would receive packages containing six different types of seeds, of "traditional, local varieties that we are accustomed [to]," along with planting manuals.

"I saw an upsurge in interest in kitchen gardens and home gardens and people wanting seeds. Long before covid19, we've been working on something related to that."Other seeds being distributed include Hyacinth bean and sorrel.