Victory Centre, Cedar Grove Primary Launch Inclusive School Agriculture Project

Inclusive Agriculture Takes Root at Victory Centre twinned with Cedar Grove Primary School by Brent Simon

A new school-based agriculture initiative is demonstrating how inclusive education and climate-smart farming can work hand in hand to strengthen food security in Antigua and Barbuda.

The project, funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Small Grants Program, led by the Victory Centre in partnership with Cedar Grove Primary School, brings together preteens—both neurotypical students and students with disabilities—to learn practical agricultural skills through hands-on experience. By transforming school gardens into living classrooms, the initiative shows that agriculture is accessible to all and that every student has the capacity to contribute meaningfully.

With technical leadership from the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and on-the-ground support from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Extension Division, the project this morning continued the installation of drip irrigation systems. These systems are designed to reduce water use while improving crop productivity, exposing students to modern, sustainable farming practices from an early age.

According to Mr. Craig Thomas/IICA National Specialist, the partnership is intentionally built around inclusion. “This project is twinned with a differently abled school to show that, notwithstanding disabilities, students can still make a meaningful contribution to agriculture. Schools are the foundation, and what is being done here at Cedar Grove is also being replicated at the Victory Centre so all students can participate and benefit,” he said.

The hands-on nature of the project is already proving to be impacting on the students, particularly those with special needs. Mr. Bradbury Brown/ Irrigation Specialist noted that agriculture provides a natural pathway for engagement and confidence-building. “Agriculture is easily transferable for these students. They use their hands, they see things growing, they develop a passion for it, and it shows that they can contribute to society and even build a livelihood in the future,” he explained.

By engaging students at the preteen level, the initiative encourages curiosity, responsibility, and pride while challenging long-standing stigmas surrounding disability. The project also delivers a broader message to the community: “Inclusive development strengthens society as a whole”.

Through collaboration between schools, IICA, and the Ministry of Agriculture, the initiative sets a practical, replicable model for inclusive, climate-smart agricultural education across Antigua and Barbuda.

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