Agriculture Minister V. Alfred Gray said his ministry is looking to perform a major expansion of the school based agriculture programme beginning in the New Year.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Minister Gray said the government is looking to get more schools involved in the programme and to ensure that those already in it produce more crops on an even bigger scale.

“The school programme is growing into a lively component of agriculture in the country,” he said. “The greatest success story comes out of North Andros where they have been producing vegetables and other agricultural items for sale not only in Andros but here in Nassau.”

Minister Gray said there are other schools in the country that are doing similar productions but on a smaller scale.

He added that with food security a major issue around the world, it’s time for The Bahamas to be more proactive in ensuring that the country is able to feed itself if the need arises.

According to the minister, although successive government have been trying to get more Bahamians into agriculture, the best place to start is in the schools, giving young Bahamians the opportunity to fall in love with the industry at an early age.

“We are hoping to expand this by January,” he said. “I am hoping that we are able to speak to the success of this expanded programme within the next several months.”

Last Monday the intruders attacked the agriculture farm at the H O Nash Junior High School killing one of their goats and injuring two others, by cutting off their right hind legs.

Ministry Gray said attacks like that on any school farm would not be tolerated.