Fifteen schools compete in the first Interschool Garden Contest.

A national showcase of agricultural science departments in schools across the country is set to take place through the inaugural Interschool Garden Competition. Several schools have registered for the event, which will culminate in a judging session from March 11-15.

The winners of the competition and the prize-giving ceremony will be announced on March 26 at an Agro-Expo.

The event is a joint effort between the ministries of education and agriculture. Nicolette Francis, Education Officer for Agricultural Science, confirmed the registration process for the competition has ended last Friday.

“There is much taking place in the agricultural departments in schools across both islands – Antigua and Barbuda – and much of this goes unnoticed by the general public. This garden competition and the expo that will follow are designed to raise that awareness and also to stimulate more schools to get involved in operating a garden within their compounds,” Francis explained.

Francis, the head of the Ministry of Education’s Agriculture Science, mentioned two schools during a recent interview.

She highlighted the agricultural projects being carried out at Jennings Secondary and Cedar Grove Primary schools.

At Jennings Secondary, a chicken farm is being operated to rear fowl for meat production. On the other hand, Cedar Grove Primary’s farm generates revenue by selling the produce it grows.

Francis also shared that two other schools have received voluntary assistance from members of the community.

At Clare Hall Secondary, Birchfield Osborne, the winner of the 2023 Community Garden Beautification Competition, has been working with the students to share his expertise.

Meanwhile, Neil Gomes has been performing similar tasks at the Sir Luther Wynter Pre-School.

According to Francis, the idea of hosting this competition has been around for many years.

However, after she was appointed last year in August, she decided to implement it as soon as possible.

The competition is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Education and the Citizen’s Engagement Unit within the Community Development Division of the Ministry of Social Transformation.

To ensure fairness and transparency, a team put together by the Community Development Division will be responsible for judging the competition.