The Federal Government/International Fund for Agricultural Development Value Chain Development Programme (FGN/IFAD-VCDP) has established school gardens and nutrition clubs in participating local government areas in Anambra.
The initiative aims to promote nutrition-sensitive agriculture among students.
Dr. Deborah Onyefulu, State Programme Coordinator for IFAD-VCDP in Anambra, announced this on Thursday during the inauguration of a nutrition club and a farm demonstration at Uga Girls’ High School in Aguata Local Government Area.
Represented by Nutrition Officer Mrs. Chinwe Ekwelie, Onyefulu said the program is designed to strengthen nutrition awareness at the grassroots and encourage good agricultural practices in schools.
She added that the project also seeks to inspire students’ interest in agriculture early on and promote nutrition-sensitive farming among young learners.
“The school gardens will be supported with improved cassava stems and other crop seedlings to enhance food production and nutrition education.
“We will monitor the gardens regularly to ensure best agricultural practices are followed.
“This is because nutrition is a key component of the VCDP, and schools are a strategic platform for achieving the programme’s nutrition goals,” she explained.
Onyefulu noted that the establishment of school gardens is ongoing across the nine participating local government areas.
She mentioned that Uga Girls’ High School, St. Paul’s Academy Secondary School in Achalla, Madonna Secondary School in Umunze, St. Peter’s Secondary School in Achina, and Community Secondary School in Mgbakwu are already actively participating.
She expressed optimism that the initiative would extend beyond the current communities and be adopted by more schools across the state to deepen nutrition education and agricultural development.
