Grow It Yourself (GIY) Challenge
PROJECT OVERVIEW
In 2020, the Ministry of Sport and Community Development launched the Grow It Yourself (GIY) Community Kitchen Garden initiative, aiming to boost food production at the household level within communities. This initiative supports the Ministry of Health’s goal of promoting healthy eating habits through lifestyle changes and aligns with the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries’ push for food security. In 2024, under the auspices of the Community Recovery Unit (CRU) and the theme “Grow what you eat, Eat what you Grow”, the GIY initiative will enhance its focus on Good Agricultural Farming Practices. This shift aims to contribute significantly to food sovereignty, sustainability, and security, while also fostering entrepreneurship and creating job opportunities within communities and, by extension, across the nation.
In 2024, the GIY will include the following categories:
- Small Kitchen Garden
- Medium Kitchen Garden
- Large Kitchen Garden
- Best Hydroponic Kitchen Garden
- Best Aquaponic Kitchen Garden
- Best Community Group Garden
- Most Innovative Kitchen Garden
- Most Sustainable Garden
- People’s Choice
- Decorative Garden
- Family Garden
- Community Group Garden
- Female Garden
- Youth Garden
- Best Influencer Garden
OBJECTIVES
- Contribute to Food Security, Sovereignty and Sustainability
- Growing food crops at home
- Agriculture Education
- Understanding Good Agricultural practices
- Community economic empowerment in communities through agriculture
- Understanding soil and soilless farming to combat land shortage and urbanization
- Understanding the benefits of Composting and Organic Farming
- Innovation in gardening (creative use of space)
- Bridging generations/ Youth Engagement
- Promotion of agricultural and agricultural-affiliated entrepreneurship ventures
- Pest and Disease management
- Skills development and training
- Motivate and inspire Agri enthusiasts
- Understanding the economic benefits of agriculture.