The Roxborough Police Youth Club recently expanded and remodeled its hydroponics greenhouse with the help of the Digicel Foundation. The launch of the upgraded greenhouse took place on April 29 and is seen as a step forward for agriculture on the island. The aim is to improve the diversification of the Tobago economy, with more and more organizations exploring small and medium-sized enterprises to complement their community outreach.
Through a grant of $100,000 from the Digicel Foundation’s EPIC program, the hydroponics farm at the Police Youth Club headquarters upgraded and installed five 1,000-gallon water tanks for rainwater harvesting. The greenhouse contains three types of hydroponics – nutrient film technique (NFT), floating raft, and a drip system.
Thirty young farmers will directly benefit from the training and will have an opportunity to utilize a produce cycle and earn income from sales. The greenhouse has the capacity to produce almost 3,000 short crops and complements the other agricultural initiatives and entrepreneurial activities at the youth club.
Through the hydroponics system, the Roxborough Police Youth Club will engage local hotels and restaurants to supply fresh produce, as well as the Roxborough Hospital. The youth club is one of four non-profit organizations in Tobago to receive EPIC grant funding from the Digicel Foundation earlier this year. The EPIC investment in Tobago for the last financial year was TT$450,000.
Read the complete article at www.newsday.co.tt.