Communities get seed kits

Seeds kits distributed by the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme contain celery, pimento, beets, patchoi, cabbage, cauliflower, ochro, melongene and cucumber. -
Seeds kits distributed by the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme contain celery, pimento, beets, patchoi, cabbage, cauliflower, ochro, melongene and cucumber. -

OVER 600 seed kits which are to be used for home gardens have been delivered to community groups across the country by the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) administered by UNDP.

The initiative was part of the UNDP’s effort to support communities during the covid-19 pandemic, with seeds also provided by The University of the West Indies seed bank, said a media release.

This followed a survey of community organisations in which food and seedlings for growing food at home were identified as urgent needs.

Children sort out seeds for planting. -

The kits contain a variety of seed types including celery, pimento, beets, patchoi, cabbage, cauliflower, ochro, melongene and cucumber. They were delivered to 12 communities including in Arima, Brasso Seco, Grande Riviere, Siparia, La Savanne, Felicity, Moruga, Castara, Charlotteville and Port of Spain.

Bottles of soap, as well as washable, reusable masks, were also distributed.

GEF SGP will also be working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other partners to expand this initial distribution into a nationwide, grow-garden initiative, with a special focus on vulnerable communities that have been disproportionately affected by the food security challenges raised by covid19, the release said.

Twelve communities acrosss TT received seed kits to start home gardens. -

Targeted groups, which will include at-risk youth, single mothers and low-income households, will be supported in developing new skills, employment opportunities, food security and improved family nutrition.

National co-ordinator of GEF SGP Dr Sharda Mahabir said in the release, “We remain committed to developing community resilience and supporting holistic and sustainable projects that bring benefit to community and country. Our intention is that on completion, this GEF SGP project and the upcoming wider national initiative will have supported some of the most vulnerable groups in our communities and increased appreciation for agriculture as a psycho-social tool, as well as a means of food security and resilience. In the long-term, we hope to improve the perception of, and participation in, this important sector.”

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