Kajiado:Schools in Kajiado County have been encouraged to create school gardens as part of an initiative to enhance the nutritional value of meals provided to students.
According to Kenya News Agency, the initiative is part of the Scaling Up Homegrown School Feeding project aimed at increasing the use of locally produced food in school meals while equipping learners with practical skills in food production and nutrition. This project is being executed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), with financial support from the Government of Sweden.
Esther Wambui, an agriculture specialist with FAO Kenya, emphasized the importance of schools with adequate land taking part in this initiative by growing some of the food required for school meals. These gardens also serve as practical learning spaces for students. The project is currently being piloted in Kajiado, Embu, and Tharaka Nithi counties, with additional support from the non-governmental organization Light Up Hope, which helps establish school gardens and connect local farmers with school feeding programs.
In Kajiado, the project has been implemented at PCEA Naserian and Paranae Comprehensive Schools, where model gardens are used to demonstrate food production techniques that can be adopted by other schools and homes. Additionally, the project trains women’s groups in climate-smart agriculture and food production, enhancing their ability to grow nutritious crops despite changing weather conditions. This approach not only aims to provide a reliable market for farmers’ produce but also contributes to household food security and income.
The initiative supports the Government’s goal of expanding school meal provision to 10 million learners by 2030, up from the current 2.6 million. Wambui highlighted the importance of supporting smallholder farmers to aggregate their produce and sell it to schools, thereby achieving this target.
Light Up Hope President Kelly Shaugnessy noted that the project aids schools and communities in adopting farming practices tailored to local environmental conditions, especially in arid and semi-arid regions facing unreliable rainfall. These practices, including water-efficient irrigation and crop diversification, help households manage erratic rainfall and prolonged drought, ensuring consistent access to nutritious food for children.
At Paranae Primary School, headteacher Timothy Lemaiyan reported positive outcomes from the initiative, including increased enrollment, improved student performance, and better nutrition due to balanced diets. The school garden has become a valuable educational resource, providing students with hands-on experience in agriculture and environmental conservation.
