ANIMAL HUSBANDRY at the Psychiatric Hospital received a boost last week with the addition of nine ewes from the Greenland Livestock Station.

The sheep were presented to director Tennyson Springer by Minister of Agriculture Senator Haynesley Benn, who said that the institution was the first to respond to "the rebirth in agriculture".

Benn said: "I have gone out there with a plea to get people to grow more food – not only food from soil, but meat as well and I am extremely happy that this institution has seen it fit to answer that call."

The minister noted that the animals would help in the rehabilitation of inmates while teaching them how to earn a living, and he urged their participation in Agrofest 2009.

He added that the Psychiatric Hospital could also lend a helping hand to other health institutions that wish to get on board with animal rearing, supported by the Greenland Livestock Station.

Director Springer in accepting the animals, acknowledged that they would strengthen the institution's therapeutic programme which was aimed at instilling in patients a sense of responsibility that could move them from the hospital
to a point where they could resume their place in the community.

He added, too, that the sheep would help to reduce the hospital's large food bill.

While noting the hospital's long history of agricultural projects, both in animals and plants, Springer said: "We hope the Ministry of Agriculture can give us that technical support which is necessary to ensure the viability of this project and ensure we maximise the benefits which we can gain from this exercise." (BGIS)