BY- Brent Simon & Carol-Faye Bynoe-George
The Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center (GARDC) success fully launched its GEF Hydroponics Training Project, yesterday, 11 March,2025. This groundbreaking initiative is aimed at enhancing food security and promoting climate-smart agricultural practices in Antigua and Barbuda.
Funded through the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program (GEF SPG), of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the project – titled “Scaling up Local Food Security through a Network of Climate Smart Agricultural Systems” – focused on training and equipping individuals to adopt sustainable agricultural practices.
The project will provide hydroponics training to diverse groups across the island, including:
Three rural secondary schools –
Glanville’s Secondary School, Pares Secondary School, and Trinity Academy – At least 50 students, teachers and farm attendants will be trained.
Inmates at His Majesty’s Prison – with 10 participants benefitting from the program.
Community members – particularly 20 women from local groups and churches, who will receive scholarships for training.
As part of the initiative, hydroponic systems will be constructed and installed at each participating school and His Majesty’s Prison, with assistance from teachers, supervisors, volunteers, and trainees. The local women who successfully complete the program will each reactive a start-up kit, which includes:
A mini-hydroponics container
An air pump
Rockwool (a growing medium)
Net cups
This practical support ensures that participants can immediately apply their knowledge and contribute to local food production.
Hydroponics – a method of growing plants without soil – offers sustainable solution to food production, especially in regions facing climate- related challenges such as drought and poor soil conditions. By introducing this technology at the school level and within vulnerable communities, the GARD Center aims to create a new generation of skilled agricultural practitioners who can drive food self-sufficiency in Antigua and Barbuda.
During the event several key figures delivered remarks, emphasizing the significance of the initiative:
Mrs. June Jackson – Executive Director of GARD Center, provided an overview of the US$30 000 project’s purpose, the intentional impact on local food security and capacity building.
Miss Letitia Lawrence/Principal of Pares Secondary School highlighted the importance of hands-on learning and how the training will prepare students for sustainable livelihoods and her expectation of those that were trained to be trainers of their younger counterparts.
Mr. Rody Christopher/Principal of Glanville’s Secondary School, stated that, “This school is on the rise, committed to success through dedication and perseverance.” Additionally, He remarked that the school has been desirous of obtaining this equipment and training for a while now and was promised one which never materialized. In closing he expressed gratitude to GARDC and GEF for facilitating the dream in becoming a reality.
Miss Michaela Harris, Rehabilitation Assistant Coordinator at His Majesty’s Prison, was enthusiastic about the opportunities that such training would provide to persons returning to society from the confined environment. She said, “This training gives inmates, a second chance, an opportunity to break the cycle and become better men and women, and is a could be a major steppingstone to redefining themselves, while giving them employability and teaching them a pathway to contributing to society”
Ms. Carol-Faye Bynoe-George, Head of Communications Unit represented the Ministry of Agriculture, in her remarks she reiterated the ministry’s commitment to supporting agricultural development, the importance of youth inclusion and emphasized that collaborative efforts are required from everyone in regard to Food Sovereignty and Security.
Mrs. S. Natalya Lawrence/National Coordinator of GEF Small Grants Programme, acknowledged the project’s significance in Food Sovereignty/security, empowering youth and women, fostering climate resilience. She reiterated that GEF SGP, remains committed to assisting government, communal associations and other stakeholders in the fight to protect the nation and region from climate change impacts, fostering global climate resilience and achieving Food Security goals.
The event concluded with the vote of thanks by Mrs. Angela Ephraim/Principal of GARDC Training Facility after the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), symbolizing a commitment of furthering sustainable agriculture and community empowerment. The signed MOAs were individually signed by both principals with Mrs. Roberta Williams/Former GARDC Director co-signing as witness.
As the seeds of this initiative take root, stakeholders remain optimistic that the GARD Center’s efforts will lead to lasting positive change, ensuring a more food secure climate resilient future for Antigua and Barbuda.
