The Editor, Sir:

This is an open letter to the minister of agriculture - I wish to suggest a small way in which the above message could be commu-nicated to the future citizens of our land - our schoolchildren.

The Rural Agriculture Develop-ment Agency should be required to accumulate all the ackee seeds to meet the number of children currently attending primary schools islandwide.

All children would be required to 'set' those seeds to produce a plant, which they would plant at their respective homes. Later, similar projects would be done with breadfruit seedlings and then with avocado pear seeds. The ultimate object should be for all those homes to possess an ackee, breadfruit and pear tree - their own source of livelihood, at least during those seasons.

Backyard gardening

At the same time, a campaign should be launched to encourage all other households to start their home gardens by planting crops in their homes where they do not exist. In other words, every 'yard' in Jamaica should have an ackee, breadfruit and a pear tree. Members of the 4-H Clubs island-wide could assist in sourcing the seeds and seedlings.

I am, etc.,

HOWARD HAMILTON, QC