Three Barrels of Seeds Donated to Support Local Farmers

By S.Browne. Updated 10:16 a.m., Tuesday, May 28, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Farmers, backyard gardeners, and community groups in St Vincent and the Grenadines are expected to benefit from a donation of vegetable, herb, and flower seeds made to support local food production and food security efforts.

The Zero Hunger Trust Fund (ZHTF) recently received three barrels of seeds from Canada-based Still Kickin’ Charity during an official handover ceremony held on May 18 at the ZHTF office on the second floor of the National Insurance Services Building in Kingstown.

The donation was presented on behalf of Founder and Executive Director of Still Kickin’ Charity, Dwight “Bongo” Anderson, by former Consul General to Toronto, Fitz Huggins.

According to the ZHTF, one barrel of seeds was presented to the Ministry of Social Welfare and Community Empowerment, Ecclesiastical Affairs and National Heritage, one was given to Seed Sisters through representative Angela Byron, while the third barrel will remain with the ZHTF to support community and household food security initiatives.

Chief Executive Officer and Director of the ZHTF, Safiya Horne-Bique, described the donation as timely and beneficial to backyard gardeners and family farmers across the country.

“This is a very timely donation, and I know our backyard gardeners and family farmers will appreciate receiving these seeds,” Horne-Bique said.

She also noted that Anderson has been a longstanding supporter of the organisation and expressed hope for continued collaboration.

Minister of Social Welfare and Community Empowerment, Ecclesiastical Affairs and National Heritage, Shevern John, said the donation supports the Government’s efforts to strengthen agriculture and increase domestic food production.

“As part of the Government’s mandate, our mission is to ensure that agriculture remains one of the four pillars of the economy,” John stated.

“These seeds will go towards farmers who will improve their production and help increase domestic food production.”

John also thanked Anderson and Still Kickin’ Charity for their continued support and commended the ZHTF for helping to facilitate the handover and distribution process.

Huggins said the donation aligns closely with several food security programmes facilitated by the ZHTF.

“I know these seeds will be well received, as they align with several of the programmes that the ZHTF facilitates on an annual basis,” he said.

Anderson, who is of Jamaican-Canadian heritage, explained that he and his family lived in St Vincent and the Grenadines from 2021 to 2024, where they developed strong relationships within the local farming community.

According to Anderson, those experiences strengthened his appreciation for the role agriculture plays in the livelihoods of Vincentians and deepened his commitment to supporting food security efforts in the country.

He noted that Still Kickin’ Charity began sending seed donations to St Vincent and the Grenadines following the 2021 eruption of La Soufrière Volcano and has continued supporting related initiatives since then.

“We are well aware of the food security issues in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and the natural disasters that farmers and the wider population have faced,” Anderson said.

He further explained that the SVG-based Seed Sisters group was established through the charity to support female farmers, increase food production and help develop a sustainable seed bank initiative in the country.

“The aim is not only to grow seeds for selling or personal use, but also to develop a strategic seed bank in St Vincent that can help to reinvigorate the agricultural sector if it is affected by storms, volcanic activity or other challenges,” he said.

Anderson also encouraged Vincentians to consider seed saving and household-level seed banking as part of wider efforts to build resilience amid global economic uncertainty and supply chain disruptions affecting small island developing states.

He additionally thanked Westcoast Seeds and Donations Coordinator Erika Simms for supporting the initiative.

The ZHTF said it continues to work with local, regional and international partners to support sustainable and nutrition-sensitive food security initiatives across St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Persons seeking additional information on the initiative may contact the Zero Hunger Trust Fund at 457-1738 or via email at jsvincent@zerohungersvg.com.

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