Cheryl Mosley, Dinthill High School student, is all smiles as she does duties in the institution's chicken coop recently. Joining her is Donisha Tate (left), her schoolmate, Kerisha Ebanks (right) and Christopher Donegal. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Jamaica imported US $763m in agricultural produce last year. Now Dinthill Technical High School in St Catherine is doing its part to keep agriculture production high, in an effort to reduce that import bill.

"Dinthill has been contracted by Caribbean Broilers. For a number of years, it has provided the school with (baby) chickens which are raised over a six-week period. This has been a vibrant project producing 12,000 chicken, six times yearly," said Dennis Clarke, principal of the school. He said the school produced 72,000 chickens annually for Caribbean Broilers at a value of approximately $3 million.

"It helps to enhance local consumption and shows that the country can sustain itself with local production," Clarke said.

There are other types of livestock such as cows, sheep, goats and a vibrant pig farm. The school supplies an average of 200 weaners to farmers throughout Jamaica per year.

Clarke said the school benefits from the farm as it supplies 80 per cent of the pork and 20 per cent of the beef consumed at the school. The school also raises 250 layers that are sold to the community. "We continue in agriculture, as when Dinthill was formed the aim was to cater to the needs of the children of poor farmers from various communities around the school, therefore, agriculture is synonymous with us," Clarke said.

Principal's views

Dale Omeally, agriculture teacher, endorsed the views of the principal.

"The school is often visited for excursion by other schools and for students doing examinations in agriculture. This is where they come to do their practical," said Omeally.

He said the students make the farming project a part of their school lives, which result in better production.

To vouch for that fact, students Cheryl Mosley, Denisha Tate, Javayne Reid, Kerisha Ebanks, Simone Givans, and Christopher Donegal, were all quick to show the news team their expertise.

Under the supervision of teachers Robert Henry and Omeally, the students gave injections to the pigs and collected eggs, among other chores.

They affirmed the consensus that, for them, farming was still king.

Dinthill for the past 10 years has dominated the agricultural sector at all school competitions and was the national farm quiz champion.