The Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Richmond Vale Academy and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Preservation Fund launched the National Soursop Planting Project on the Thursday 9th November 2017 at the Diamonds Primary School. The children of the Diamonds Primary School were given the privilege to plant the first set of soursop trees on their grounds. 

In attendance were one of the founders of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Preservation Fund, Ms. Louise Mitchell, representative from the Richmond Vale Academy, Ms. Stina Herberg and The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Transformation, Forestry and Fisheries, Hon. Saboto Caesar.

The National Soursop Planting Project is geared towards planting one million (1,000,000) soursop trees throughout the country. This project forms a part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Transformation, Forestry and Fisheries Agri-export Strategy Initiative, which has been developed to increase agricultural export. 

Ms. Mitchell expressed how grateful she was to be a part of the project while sharing an interactive and educational speech to the children; she also donated a book to the school’s Library “Wild Life in the Caribbean”. Ms. Herberg expressed how excited she was to play a vital role in the project. 

Hon. Saboto Caesar expressed his gratitude to the SVG Preservation Fund for contributing financing of twenty thousand United States Dollars ($20,000 USD) to the Richmond Vale Academy for propagation and contribution of the first six-thousand soursop trees to the project. The Minister indicated that the project would play a vital role in the diversification strategy of the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines. He informed the students that there would be trees available to students who would be interested in planting their very own soursop trees. 

The Minister encouraged the children to “Dream, but Dream big, think, but think big. Once you dream, you can achieve it.” 

Picture illustrating students listening to the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Transformation Forestry and Fisheries, Hon Saboto Caesar’s speech.

Hon Saboto Caesar, Forestry Officer, Alexa Browne along with a students of the Diamonds Government School.

L-R- Hon Saboto Caesar, representative from the Richmond Vale Academy, Ms. Stina Herberg, Principal of the Diamond’s Government School, and one of the founders of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Preservation Fund, Ms. Louise Mitchell.

Student planting Soursop Tree. 

Students planting Soursop Tree. 

Source:  Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry & Labour