ZHTF receives seeds to boost National food security drive

The Zero Hunger Trust Fund (ZHTF), has received a donation of a variety of seeds from the Still Kickin Charity based in Canada for use in its on-going seed distribution initiative.

Some of the seeds donated to the ZHTF by the Still Kickin Charity of Canada.

In a release, the ZHTF said hundreds of West Coast packaged seeds were handed over to its CEO, Safiyah Horne-Bique at the Zero Hunger Trust Fund’s conference room last Friday, February 14, 2025.

The donation will be used to bolster the national food security drive, that has a seed and seedling distribution component aimed at boosting backyard gardening across the state.

“We want to ensure before the end of this year in every single backyard in this country that you have some form of production,” Minister of Agriculture, Saboto Caesar said.

He pointed out that, “The country is currently engaged in the process to reduce hunger and undernourishment,” against the backdrop of significant global increases in prices.

The minister, expressing delight with the donation by the Charity, also noted that its executive director, Dwight Anderson had made a significant contribution of seeds to the recovery efforts after the eruption of La Soufriere volcano.

He emphasized that with the immense growth of the tourism sector, the demand for food is increasing, and he urged farmers to dedicate their efforts towards that platform. Caesar also highlighted that the development of more community markets which cater for the sale of fresh fruits and vegetables should be pursued.

He commended the Zero Hunger Trust Fund for doing excellent work and drew reference to the close to 11,000 day old chicks (layers and broilers) that were distributed under the programme within a month.

Caesar said over the next six months approximately 800 families in the country will be able to produce their own eggs.

Horne-Bique thanked the Still Kickin Charity for their generous donation, and gave the assurance that ZHTF will made visits to recipients who have already begun to produce, to see what they have done and provide other support. She also mentioned that gardening tools and kits will be distributed to support new persons coming into the gardening initiative.

Executive Director of the Still Kicking Charity, Dwight Anderson used the opportunity to make recommendations to assist in the progression of the national food security drive. He said with the help of the agriculture minister, there can be the establishment of an agricultural reserve. “Lands that are set aside for continuous food generation in the form of fruit trees and all other edible plants or vegetables, as well as medicinally applicable vegetables and plants,” Anderson pointed out.

He also referred to the need to be cognisant of how geo-political issues can negatively impact such operations as global shipping and the need to offset challenges that can affect persons at the national level.

“Anything can happen, and we might not be able to get the prescriptions that we need,” Anderson noted, as he underscored the need to “focus again on home-based health and food generation, seed propagation and storage” establishing a seed bank and food bank providing for long-term food storage capacity strategically placed across St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Marketing executive of the Farmers Support Company, Alex Barnwell said, “this initiative is a step forward to self-sufficiency, resilience and ensuring that every single Vincentian has a means to thrive even in globally uncertain times”. He added, “We know what’s happening in our global economy, know what’s happening in our global conversations and now is the time to be self-sufficient.”

The distribution of seeds and seedlings will continue during this week.