St. George's, GRENADA - As many as 2,000 vulnerable households will be targeted when the Ministry of Agriculture launches its 2009 food security programme later this month. The programme will provide a wide range of material an infrastructural support to produce crops and livestock throughout Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Finance Minister Nazim Burke, in his budget presentation to parliament last month, described food security as a "national security'' issue, saying that every household has a role to play in establishing food security for the nation. "At the most fundamental level,'' Mr. Burke said, "a change in attitude is needed. This need was aptly captured by a passionately delivered recommendation at the national consultation on the 2009 budget.'' During the consultation, many people suggested that the government should abandon the concept of "backyard gardening," and instead engage in what was referred to as "essential farming.'' The six-month old National Democratic Congress government has been advocating the importance of Grenadians "eating what they grow,' and growing what they eat.'' However, Food Security Programme Manager Ingrid Rush concedes that there could be challenges with Grenadians embracing the food security agenda. Mrs. Rush, a former Senator, said people have grown accustomed to the taste of imported food, and many are not inclined to going back to agriculture. She is optimistic, though, that the attitude towards agriculture and local foods could be reversed with the cost of imported food items constantly on the rise. Mrs. Rush said one of the benefits of the food security programme is the knowledge that will be imparted to people on how to minimise expenditure. The Ministry of Agriculture is working with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations to deliver the food security programme, which will be launched in St. Mark. From the Grenada Information Service (GIS) INSIDE GRENADA NEWS