Dozens of students from eight Primary Schools across Trinidad and Tobago had the opportunity to plant, nurture, and learn about a fruit tree that is not in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Port of Spain.
As part of the commemoration of World Food Day 2025 on Thursday, the students gathered to plant a tree at the Gardens.
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ravi Ratiram, applauded the World Food Day National Committee’s inclusion of the nation’s students in planting and nurturing a tree at their schools.
“Through the Little Hands, Big Roots initiative, these students received and cared for their own abiu plants earlier this year, learning firsthand the importance of patience, responsibility, and connection to the land. Their presence reminds us that the future of agriculture and, indeed, our planet rests in the hands of a generation that values both growth and stewardship.”
The Minister noted that students participated in the project from May 5th to October 15th.
“These young minds are the future of our food security here in Trinidad and Tobago and across the world. The knowledge and respect for agriculture that they cultivate today will determine the kind of world that we all live in tomorrow: one where food is abundant, nutritious, and sustainably produced.”
Meanwhile, a representative from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations shared their Director-General’s World Food Day message.
“The challenges we face today are more complex and interconnected than ever before. In 2024, 673 million people worldwide were hungry. Conflict can erase years of development. Drought or floods can push entire regions back into food insecurity. Rising prices mean millions of families can no longer afford to eat.”
The theme of this year’s World Food Day is ‘Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future.’