Agriculture Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has intervened in a bid to reverse the reduction in the allocation of funds to the National School Garden Programme announced last week.

This reduction was announced against the background of the 20 per cent cut in capital expenditure mandated by Prime Minister Bruce Golding for all government ministries.

However, based on the fact that this programme helps to provide a well needed supplement for hundreds of students whose nutritional status is at risk, Dr Tufton gave instructions for the restructuring of the ministry's internal financing so as to maintain the programme.

The school garden programme has targeted the establishment of 966 gardens in public schools islandwide over a three-year period.

In the 2008/2009 financial year the programme surpassed its target, having established 405 gardens, with a projection to set-up 322 in the current fiscal year.