A session in the first round of the ECO Learning programme.
PHILIPSBURG--The second round of the ECO Learning programme is scheduled to start this week, and will provide up to forty participants with knowledge of agroecology and disaster preparedness over the course of next eight weeks. The programme is free of charge.
The programme will be hosted at ECO St. Maarten Agricultural Research and Development Center from late April to June. The programme is in collaboration with the Netherlands Red Cross, Spaceless Gardens, and Community Development, Family and Humanitarian Affairs (CDFHA), which is an executing agency of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA.
The programme’s first edition started in November 2020 and ended in January 2021. CDFHA held a certification ceremony for the participants, which was attended by former VSA Minister Richard Panneflek.
“The [first edition of the – Ed.] programme yielded great results, and created a new team of interested persons on a mission to start a tree bank and other community-oriented activities that will help to stimulate and enhance agricultural production that may be more sustainable in the long term,” it was stated in a press release issued by Spaceless Gardens on Thursday.
Spaceless Gardens and the Netherlands Red Cross signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on April 12 for the programme’s second run.
While the first cohort learned basic knowledge about agroecology, the Netherlands Red Cross added a disaster preparedness component for the second round. Spaceless Gardens and ECO St. Maarten said the addition is of great importance considering the natural disasters that many Caribbean islands face.
Persons can still register for the programme’s second round. The programme consists of an hourly session per week and covers climate change and disaster preparedness; seed germination (seed types and propagation, and slips and cloning techniques); plant science and soil types; plant care, maintenance and disease control; history of agriculture in St. Maarten; agribusiness; nutrition and medicinal plants; and harvesting and culinary preparation.
Participants will receive a healthy breakfast, bush tea and natural juices at each session, and will receive a certificate at the end of the programme.
“The support the Netherland Red Cross offered to Spaceless Gardens and ECO St. Maarten Agricultural Research and Development Center will allow the Center to finally serve its purpose in our communities. …
“We hope that, with programmes like this, we may be truly able to shift lives in our community. If people in our community are healthier, based on gaining the right access to awareness or knowledge, they can empower themselves with these tools that may allow them to make better choices. Better people making better choices in our community may just be the key to creating and sustaining a better St. Maarten,’’ said Spaceless Garden managing director Denicio Wyatte.
Persons can visit their community help desk for more information.
