Canada Charity Sends Seed Barrels to St. Vincent Farmers

When Dwight "Bongo" Anderson lived in St. Vincent and the Grenadines from 2021 to 2024, he watched local farmers rebuild after the La Soufrière volcano erupted and saw firsthand how vulnerable small island food systems can be. Now his Canada-based Still Kickin' Charity has sent three full barrels of vegetable, herb, and flower seeds to help farmers strengthen local food production.

The Zero Hunger Trust Fund received the donation at their Kingstown office this week. One barrel went to the Ministry of Social Welfare to distribute to family farmers, one went to Seed Sisters (a women farmers group Anderson helped establish), and the third stays with the Trust Fund for community gardening programs.

"This is a very timely donation, and I know our backyard gardeners and family farmers will appreciate receiving these seeds," said Safiya Horne-Bique, Director of the Zero Hunger Trust Fund. Minister Shevern John emphasized that boosting local production remains a key government priority as agriculture anchors the national economy.

Anderson started sending seeds to St. Vincent right after the 2021 volcanic eruption. His charity has continued supporting the island nation ever since, with help from Canadian seed company Westcoast Seeds providing the donations.

The bigger vision goes beyond just planting this season's crops. Anderson wants to help St. Vincent build a strategic seed bank that could save the agricultural sector if another volcano, hurricane, or climate disaster strikes.

"The aim is not only to grow seeds for selling or personal use, but also to develop a strategic seed bank in St. Vincent that can help to reinvigorate the agricultural sector if it is affected by storms, volcanic activity or other challenges," Anderson explained. He's encouraging Vincentian families to save seeds at home too, especially as global supply chain problems make importing food less reliable for island nations.

The Ripple Effect

The Seed Sisters program Anderson helped launch does more than distribute seeds to women farmers. It's training them to save and bank seeds locally, building expertise that could protect food security for generations. When disaster strikes small island nations, importing emergency food supplies takes time, but locally saved seeds can get crops growing again immediately.

These three barrels represent hope that St. Vincent's agricultural future can become more resilient, one saved seed at a time.