ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOLS

THURSDAY JUNE 01, 2017:  PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – Sustainability is key in every business venture. Recently, at the Aquaculture Unit of the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, a workshop was held focusing on business development possibilities and benefits and outcomes that can be derived. The workshop targeted key stakeholders from special needs organisations across the country who have benefitted from the implementation of the Aquaponics programme in their schools.

Three core areas were targeted: Business Development facilitated by Vindra Dhanraj, Digicel Foundation Board Member and Country Manager for Trend Media; Aquaponics Entrepreneurship, delivered by Krystian Seunath of Vaca Verde Farms and Functioning of Aquaponics Systems conducted by Harnarine Lalla, Fisheries Officer, with support from technicians Sanjay Balliramsingh and Shastri Ballyram.

Many participants expressed gratitude at the opportunity to enhance their business ventures through much-needed training in developing both business and marketing plans. Mrs. Alexander, a teacher from the Tobago School for the Deaf, Speech and Language Impaired expressed the strong desire to “encourage our students in entrepreneurial activities.”  She went on to say “I see the Aquaponics Programme as an ideal opportunity to use the school’s Life Skills Classes to develop entrepreneurs who could support the nation’s dietary needs from farm to plate.”

The Digicel Foundation has so far implemented 15 Aquaponics Units with an investment of US$78,000.  Fourteen units are located at various special needs schools across Trinidad and Tobago, and the 15^th unit is an 18-pipe demonstration model housed at the Aquaculture Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries.