A group of eager students from Gordon Greenidge Primary swapped their classroom for the fields of a pineapple farm in Orange Hill, St James, where they got their hands dirty learning the art of agriculture and the secrets of food production.
The farm, operated by small-scale farmer Devon Slater, boasts more than 3 000 pineapple plants and several varieties, including Cone, Guyanese, Honey Dew, Sugar Sweet, Hawaii, Unknown Red, Red, and One Seed.
Slater, who has been cultivating pineapples for the past six years, shared his expertise with the young visitors. He taught them how to grow the fruit using crowns or suckers, emphasised the importance of rich soil, and explained how pineapples can even thrive in containers such as buckets or drums.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for the children to learn about farming and see how we can grow our own food instead of importing everything,” said agriculture science teacher Brenda Drakes. “This experience can inspire them to explore agriculture as a way to diversify and save money by growing their own crops.”
For many students, the tour was an eye-opener.
“I didn’t know there were so many types of pineapples,” said Samiya Maynard. “And I didn’t know they could grow in Barbados. I had fun on the tour.”
Her classmate Kaderi Murray was equally enthusiastic: “I want to grow pineapples too. I’d love to taste them and come back again.”
Despite his farming success, Slater revealed that he is now battling an unexpected challenge—a troop of about 20 green monkeys that raid his farm early in the mornings, eating his fruit and causing financial losses.
“This is the first time in six years I’ve had a monkey problem,” he explained. “They’ve discovered my pineapples and now I have to find ways to keep them away.”
While the visit provided a fun and engaging learning experience for the students, it also highlighted the challenges small farmers face in protecting their crops. The school hopes the tour will inspire students to appreciate local agriculture and consider its role in food security and sustainability.
sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb
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