NEW GREENHOUSE FOR MANNING'S SCHOOL - Jamaica Observer - February 25, 2015

By AINSWORTH MORRIS
Environment Watch writer

Earlier this month, Food for The Poor (FFP) and the Digicel Foundation officially handed over a newly renovated 1,500-square-foot greenhouse - valued at $1.18 million - to Manning's School in Westmoreland.

The greenhouse - which was built last year - houses crops such as sweet pepper and tomato used in the agricultural science modules of the school's curriculum.

The FFP Executive Director David Mair expressed surprise at the volume of crops yielded by the students since the start of the academic year, considering the modules were being threatened by the dilapidated state of the greenhouse.

“Having a new greenhouse means students can utilize more innovative methods of producing crops by using advancing technologies in agriculture. Additionally, producing crops in a controlled location will ultimately enhance the income generating arm of the institution while embracing self-sufficiency,” Mair highlighted.

He lauded Digicel Foundation's participation in the project, saying: “The handing over of this renovated 1,500 square ft greenhouse to Manning’s School, a partnership with Digicel Foundation, is yet another demonstration of ‘alone we can do so little but together we can do so much more'.”

Richard Washington, head of the Agriculture Department at the school, believes the greenhouse will encourage his students to not only grow their own crops, but become budding entrepreneurs.

“This greenhouse will really expose students to new and advanced technology used in agriculture. This will teach students to use limited space to maximise production in a small area. It will also allow the students to learn the business of agriculture, preparing business plans and budgets. We have students who have already begun giving their parents, who are small farmers, advice on harvesting and production,” says Washington.

TThe greenhouse comes equipped with new shade netting, galvanised pipes, ultraviolet treated greenhouse plastic, water tanks, an electric water pump, screen filter, fertilisers, seedlings, flower pots, gutters and an irrigation system.Additionally, there is a shade house as well as an animal production unit for goats, rabbits and poultry.

Digicel Foundation's Chairman Jean Lowrie-Chin views the development as an income- and skill-generating initiative which allows the school to purchase produce from the greenhouse at a subsidised rate to help offset operational expenses, while doubling as a training facility for farmers in the community.

“This is no ordinary project,” Lowrie-Chin said. “Students who will be impacted directly will be empowered with the knowledge and skills to further advance this innovative practice. The Digicel Foundation is proud to partner with ambitious Jamaicans like you because it is from the firm foundation established here that we will be able to thrive as a nation.”

The greenhouse is expected to impact over 1,800 students to new technologies in agriculture.

Manning’s boasts a 100 per cent pass rate in agricultural science at the CSEC level. This comes as no surprise from a school whose tradition in agriculture dates back to 1887.

WORKING! WORKING! WORKING! Students of the agriculture programme at Manning’s School doing a demonstration of how they sow seeds during the official handing over ceremony for their renovated greenhouse to the school.

HOW LOVELY: Student Taylor McKenzie (left) and Patrice Smith-Sterling, grants & finance specialist, Digicel Foundation, admire crops growing inside the recently renovated greenhouse at Manning’s School, following the official handover on February 17.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/regional/Manning-s-School-gets-new-greenhouse_18471093