Video of the GARD Center handover of Hydroponics Unit to Pares Secondary School. Funded and in partnership with the Global Environmental Facility Small Grant Program (GEF SGP)
Posted on the Facebook Page of
Antigua Ministry of Agriculture, Lands,
Fisheries & The Blue Economy
(June 3, 2025)
May 28, 2025 – Antigua News Article- Pares Secondary Receives Hydroponic Unit from GARD Center
Antigua Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Barbuda Affairs Said: On Tuesday 27th May, the GARD Center donated the first of three hydroponic units. The recipient was the Pares Secondary School, one of the participants of a previously held training.
Project Sponsored by The GEF Small Grants Program
GARD Center would like to thank Andy Wetherill of Zemotec Inc. for the kind contribution of funds for Agricultural Equipment which was donated to the Pares Secondary School’s Agricultural Department. Pares Secondary School’s Agri-Science teachers and students will benefit from this equipment as they will now be able to plant and maintain a thriving garden into the foreseeable future.
GARD Center GEF Small Grants Programme project themed : “Increasing food security by reducing the impact of drought and improving security.” practical training on field visit to Blaire Christian’s Backyard Garden in Bolans April 20, 2023
GARD Center GEF Small Grants Programme project themed : “Increasing food security by reducing the impact of drought and improving security.” practical training on field visit to Birchfield Osborne’s Backyard Garden in McKinnons, May 9, 2023
Composting Demonstration with Facilitator Ms. Efuru Elihu, a Backyard Gardening Technician in the Ministry of Agriculture
Food Security Community Project – Pares Village and Sandals Foundation
The Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center (GARD Center) recently received funding from its partner the GEF Small Grants Programme, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme for the project: “Increasing food security by reducing the impact of drought and improving security.”
This 8-month project officially began on 6 February 2023 and will be completed in October 2023.
Focus of the project emphasizes these main areas:
· To increase public awareness about Climate Smart and sustainable Agricultural technology and approaches, by producing and distributing brochures.
· Training Workshops will be conducted using Climate Smart Agricultural Practices.
· Repair and upgrade current hydroponics unit and to construct secured fencing around its perimeter.
· To increase production of crops locally adapted ground provisions such as sweet potatoes and cassava varieties.
Sponsored by Mill Reef Fund
Beekeeper Instructor teaching students about the hive and the queen. This was a project undertaken by the non-profit GARD Center and sponsored by Mill Reef Fund of Antigua & Barbuda.
The Center has successfully completed 14 weeks of training in Community Climate Smart Agriculture with special focus on Business, Backyard Gardening and Hydroponics. This training sponsored by the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) focused on the communities of the North, East Marine Management Area (NEMMA). The course commenced on 31st May 2022 with sessions held every Tuesday – Thursday from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. at GARD Center.
The latter part of the training encouraged participants to engage in practical, hands-on training and field visits were made to Hydroponics Farms and Backyard Gardens. The practical components also saw persons constructing raised beds, a compost bin, and a Mini Hydroponics unit as part of a Start-Up Kit. Additionally, participants engaged in planting seeds as well as transplanting seedlings into raised beds as part of their practical sessions.
The Completion Ceremony for the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) was held on Wednesday 31st August 2022 at GARD Center and 8 out of 11 trainees receive certificates, a Mini Hydroponics and Backyard Garden Start-Up Kit with other complimentary tools to assist with their Backyard Gardening and Hydroponics journey.
The Sandals Foundation sponsored 20 persons in Climate Smart Agriculture for Youth with Hydroponics and saw 14 successful participants who received training. The course started on 30th May 2022 and sessions were held every Monday – Wednesday from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. at GARD Center.
The latter part of the training encouraged participants to engage in practical, hands-on training. In addition, field visits were made to Hydroponics Farms and Backyard Gardens. The practical components of the course encouraged persons to construct raised beds and a Mini Hydroponics Unit as part of a Start-Up Kit. Another part of the practical sessions encouraged participants to engaged in planting seeds as well as transplanting seedlings into raised beds.
The course ended with a Completion Ceremony on Wednesday 31st August 2022 at GARD Center and the participants received a Mini Hydroponics and Backyard Garden Start-Up Kit with other complimentary tools to assist with their Backyard Gardening and Hydroponics journey.
Welcome to Entrepreneurship World Cup Antigua and Barbuda 2022 Virtual Pitch Competition. The Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center (GARD Center) was selected to be the National Host by COESL and Global Entrepreneurship Network Caribbean.
Antigua and Barbuda will be participating in this Global Competition, which provides an unique opportunity for the island to showcase some of our best innovative entrepreneurs.
The Center is pleased to have received a generous donation from ACB Caribbean for this very worthy venture.
Joyanne Byers, Senior Manager, Finance & Accounting at ACB Caribbean, presented XCD 3,000.00 to Executive Director June M. Jackson and Judy Dease-Richards, Life Skills Tutor / Business Development Assistant of GARD Center at ACB Caribbean’s Headquarters on St. Mary’s and Thames Streets, St. John’s, on Friday, 29 July, 2022.
11 Finalists will each have 3 minutes to show us why they should be the National Winner of Entrepreneurship World Cup Antigua and Barbuda 2022.
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