THE Berbice Regional Authority (BRA) has, at the National Psychiatric Hospital, launched a kitchen garden aimed at supplying fresh food for the inmates, while assisting patients in their rehabilitation process through the Occupational Therapy programme.

The garden currently grows sweet peppers and leafy and fresh vegetables, and patients have so far harvested 50 pounds of calaloo and 30 pounds of tomatoes, according to BRA Public Relations Officer Mr Michael Itwaru.

Itwaru said the garden came into being through the efforts of VSO Colton, who is currently assigned to the kitchen, and awaits the harvesting of the sweet peppers within the next few weeks, before commencing the second phase of the garden’s development — a shade house that would include various seasoning.

The institution is also exploring the possibility of rearing livestock in an effort to have a self-sustained dietary plan.