Papine High School’s agriculture programme got a well-needed boost earlier this month when the Joan Duncan Foundation, the philanthropic arm of JMMB Group, and Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica partnered on a greenhouse valued at approximately $1 million dollars which will train the students in agricultural science as well as add to their nutrition programme.

The greenhouse was constructed in July last year, but was handed over a week ago.

FFP provided vegetable and other seedlings, as well 300 baby chicks to kick-start the programme.

“Food For The Poor Jamaica is pleased to see that the school has reaped at least three times the case of ground provision and chicken, which are used in the canteen to prepare lunch for the students and staff members and which also provides an ongoing income for the school,” FFP executive director David Mair said.

Principal Leighton Christie said the number of students expressing interest in the institution’s agriculture programme and in sitting the subject at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate has increased since the introduction of the greenhouse.

“Agriculture plays a vital role in the prosperity of a nation, so we are pleased that both Food For The Poor Jamaica and the Joan Duncan Foundation chose our agriculture programme to invest in. With the greenhouse, our students are now able to transition directly into the programmes being offered at the College of Agriculture, Science & Education immediately after graduating, which we are pleased about,” Christie said.

For her part, chairman of the Joan Duncan Foundation Patricia Sutherland said JMMB was happy to partner with Food For The Poor to execute the project especially since it has such a wide-ranging and far-reaching impact on the school community.