As part of its countrywide school gardens funding programme, the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB)recently handed over a school garden to Auas Primary School.
The N$1.1 million horticultural effort, which is being implemented in all 14 regions, is being funded.
The project’s goal is to encourage youth to engage in agricultural techniques.
Minister of Education Anna Nghipondoka noted at the handover ceremony that “the ministry’s objective is to establish a garden at every school.”
She also mentioned that youngsters should be taught how to grow gardens.
Nghipondoka advised, “Let the children take the talents and information to the community.”
NAB is responsible for the funding of the greenhouses, equipping and connecting self-regulating water tanks to enable a steady supply of water even during the school holidays.
General manager of agronomy and horticulture market development at NAB Gilbert Mulonda indicated the criteria for choosing the recipients were based on schools that have vulnerable children, existing gardens and access to water for irrigation purposes.
“We will keep monitoring the schools that are beneficiaries of this funding initiative and apart from that, the NAB as the regulator of the agronomy and horticulture industry will also make sure that all the 14 schools are registered as producers of agriculture products,” Mulonda added.
He said 11 schools are completed, while two schools are 90% complete and another is yet to start. The acting school principal, Loureen Mutanamiye-Nchindo, said the main purpose of the school garden is to feed less fortunate children.
“The school has about 600 orphans and vulnerable children that we feed every day throughout the year,” she said
