Yo Creek’s Compasión School becomes 7th primary school to introduce Aquaponic System farming under guidance of Agriculture Ministry and support from Canadian school

Photo Credit: MAFSE

By Rubén Morales Iglesias:

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise (MAFSE) opened the seventh Aquaponic System Project at Compasión School in Yo Creek, Orange Walk District on Thursday with the collaboration of a Canadian School and the support of the Ministry of Education.

“This project was once a thought in 2015, and became a reality on February 2, 2023 thanks to the continuous support, funding and collaboration by Mr. Dan and Mrs. Jacqueline Vandermeer from Millwoods Christian School in Canada, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise and the Ministry of Education,” MAFSE said in a statement posted on social media.

“The main purpose and objective of these Aquaponic projects in the above-mentioned schools is to provide a source of food through school feeding programs teaching the younger generation the importance of a healthy food diet and generation of income through urban gardening,” MAFSE said.

Under the Aquaponic System Project, the schools farm tilapia, which, according to MAFSE, is a good source of nutrients. These schools also grow vegetables including lettuce, cabbage, cucumber, sweet pepper, and tomato, plus basil and peppermint.

According to the Agriculture Ministry, the Compasión project is the seventh Aquaponic System Project that is being implemented. The first two projects were started in 2017 at the Chan Pine Ridge Primary School and Santa Cruz Government School. San Lazaro Methodist and Trinidad Government School followed in 2018, Carmelita Government School in 2019, and San Pablo Community School in 2020.

Each school was given over 300 red tilapia fingerlings by the Aquaculture Unit in the Ministry of Agriculture to initiate the production cycles.

MAFSD credits the success of the Aquaponic System Project to the joint collaboration with the Millwoods Christian School and recognized the efforts of its personnel including Miguel Huertas, Neri Bol, and Joe Sarabia who have been providing technical assistance, workshops and seedlings (vegetables and fingerlings) to the schools.

“Continuous technical assistance will be provided by personnel from the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure proper care and success of the projects,” MAFSE promised.