The ZHTF Awards Winners of National Backyard Garden Competition 2024
The National Backyard Garden 2024 Competition culminated with a prize-giving ceremony on Thursday 20th February at the NIS conference room. Organized by the Rural Transformation Unit within the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Zero Hunger Trust Fund (ZHTF), this initiative underscored the importance of household food production in strengthening food security across Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
After months of training, knowledge sharing, and rigorous judging, Decima Corea emerged as the overall winner, also receiving the Best Record Keeping and Management of Crop Award. Heather Steward secured second place, earning the Diversity Award, while Olivia DaSilva took third place, also receiving the Diversity Award. Other outstanding participants were recognized for their excellence in various categories: Rosette Bacchus won the Best Layout Award, Avita Lewis received the Best Use of Technology Award, and Audry Thompson was honoured with the Sustainability Award. Winners were awarded harvesting trays, gloves, and seedlings to support their ongoing agricultural efforts.
Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Saboto Caesar, commended the ZHTF for its unwavering support and encouraged all Vincentians to maximize their available land for food production. The Minister further emphasized the need for a national campaign to promote backyard gardening, reinforcing the vast market opportunities available to farmers and the necessity of extending outreach to ensure nationwide participation in home food production.
Chief Executive Officer of the ZHTF, Safiya Horne-Bique, reiterated the Fund’s mission to ensure that all Vincentians have access to affordable and nutritious food. She emphasized that supporting initiatives like the National Backyard Garden Competition aligns perfectly with ZHTF’s Zero Hunger objectives by empowering individuals to take control of their food security. Promoting home gardening not only enhances national food supply and reduces dependence on imports but also fosters healthier eating habits within households. Beyond the competition, home gardens play a critical role in building resilience, strengthening community bonds, and promoting self-sufficiency.
The CEO highlighted the long-term impact of the skills and knowledge gained through this initiative, which benefits families and communities alike. As a further incentive, the ZHTF announced that the top three winners will receive supplier contracts to provide fresh produce for several schools under the national school feeding program for up to eight months, demonstrating a tangible link between home gardening and broader food security solutions. The CEO expressed the Fund’s commitment and continued support for the 2025 competition.
Senior Technical Officer (STO) within the Ministry of Agriculture, Currel Thompson-Fergus, praised the competition’s success, noting its alignment with the National Home Garden Program launched in 2020. This program continues to respond to the growing interest in household food production, equipping participants with essential skills to cultivate sustainable gardens. Mrs. Thompson-Fergus expressed gratitude to the ZHTF for its continued support in making this year’s competition possible and emphasized the need for ongoing partnerships to sustain and expand the program’s reach.
The 2024 competition, launched in May, attracted 58 applications, with 22 participants successfully completing the process. Participants, ranging from beginners to experienced gardeners, underwent training sessions and were evaluated on various criteria, including sustainability, crop diversity, management practices, technical application, and record-keeping. An independent panel of judges from the Rural Transformation Unit ensured a fair and transparent evaluation process.
Registration for the National Backyard Garden 2025 Competition has commenced and will close on March 31, 2025. All interested participants are encouraged to join this movement towards a more food-secure future.
