LINSTEAD: Dinthill mulls expansion of school farm

While disclosing that plans are afoot to expand agricultural production at Dinthill Technical High School in Linstead, St Catherine, Principal at the institution Monica White said all schools across the island should have a sustainable agriculture programme.

She noted that the programme at her school provides skills training for students, and supplies produce to local markets and a hotel.

“All we do is centred on agriculture,” White declared, adding: “We have lettuce, tomatoes and sweet peppers that we grow in our greenhouse and sell. We are doing well with agriculture; it is really our epicentre.”

She further stated that, shortly, the school will replant sweet potatoes. “We are looking forward to putting in some more [sweet potato seedlings] in the next season, and we are at this point looking forward to starting our onion production. We’re working along with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, and by the end of March we should be getting those seeds, and we will have a great stock of onions this year,” added White.

Youth Environmental Advocacy Programme Ambassador for 2017/18 and student of Dinthill Technical High School, Nicole Pryce (left); and student, Dwayne Thompson, view seedlings on the school’s farm on February 20. Photos by Dave Reid.

Dinthill Technical also has goats, pigs, and chickens – all reared by students and staff members. Furthermore, plans are in place for expansion of the school’s poultry facility.

“We’re looking for partners to expand our chicken project. We really need the tunnel houses. We do the regular coop. We produce 10,000 birds every six weeks for Jamaica Broilers, but we want to be able to expand that,” White said.

“If there is any good person out there who can help us, in terms of having those tunnel houses up and running, we would love to partner with them to have that done,” the principal further told the state-owned Jamaica Information Service, which recently toured the school farm. The tour was part of the seventh Regional Session of the Youth Environmental Advocacy Programme (YEAP), which was held at Dinthill Technical on February 20.

Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Yaneke Watson (left), hands over reusable tote bags to Acting Principal at Dinthill Technical High School, Monica White, at the school during the seventh Regional Session of the Youth Environmental Advocacy Programme.

YEAP, launched in July 2016, is partly aimed at engaging students in environmental advocacy.

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