Primary School Students continue to benefit from new school feeding programme

CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (MARCH 18, 2009) -- A number of primary school students on Nevis continue to benefit from the new School Feeding Programme which was first introduced at the St. Thomas Primary School last year. 

The Ministry and Department of Agriculture, the Ministry of Education and some private citizens have been credited for the move to go local to provide wholesome, appetising and nutritious lunches five days a week, at a cost subsidised by the Nevis Island Government of $4 per meal.

Minister of Agriculture on Nevis Hon. Robelto Hector told the Department on Wednesday that the Administration was pleased with the outcome of the project. 

So far a total of 140 students have benefitted from the feeding programme at St. Thomas school and 80 at St. Johns and Mr. Hector explained that the project was in line with the Administration’s need to partner with others for the provision of proper nutrition for the island’s children and future.

 "It is the right of every person to have regular access to sufficient nutritionally adequate food for an active and healthy life.  It is the right to feed ourselves in dignity, rather than the right to be fed.  I call on our population to continue to support our local farmers and fishers, and to teach our children the importance of proper nutrition for their well being," Mr. Hector said.

He continued to reiterate the commitment to local farmers and fishers of the Government’s continued critical support which he deemed necessary for improved productivity, an expanded income base, which by extension ensured the island’s food security.
Meantime, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Dr. Kelvin Daly told the Department of Information one day earlier that much had been done to support the School Feeding Programme.

He explained that a decision was taken in 2008 to utilise locally grown organic produce and meat for the programme. 

Current statistics, Dr. Daly said, had reached a weekly supply of 70 pounds of mutton; 80 pounds of ground beef; 40 pounds of pork and 312 burger patties. Statistics were not readily available for the produce but he did indicate the extent of the programme.
“We have encouraged and supported the development of school gardens. They produce cucumbers lettuce, tomatoes and peppers. We have increased production of fruits and vegetables primarily on government estates. We have done tomatoes, cabbage, onions, sweet peppers, pumpkin, squash, watermelons and cantaloupes.

“We will be developing 3.5 acres of land at Wards estate adjacent to Hamilton primarily for root crops - sweet potatoes and yams. The land was donated by Mr. James Gaskell. It is going to cost us about $60,000 to develop that area for production that includes fencing, irrigation, labour and planting material,” he said.

Dr. Daly also addressed the enhanced mechanisation of equipment from manually operation at the Abattoir. 

“We have a new automatic Hamburger Patty Former which can make from 2-4ounce patties. This replaces the manual hand former that we had which only made one size and the new one can do it 10 times as fast. The two and four ounces [patties] are primarily for the school meals programmes.

“The Abattoir in addition provides all of the meat pork, mutton and beef pre-cut and ready to cook bite size portions for the school meals. Delivery of the products is free of cost to the schools. We work closely with the chiefs in designing the delicious and nutritious meals for the school lunch programme which seek to incorporate as much local produce in the menu as possible,” he said.

He added that there were plans to acquire citrus juice extractors and other machines to collect extracts from mangoes, sour orange, carambola and soursop etc. which would be sold to the schools for the purpose of making wholesome drinks.

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