Agriculture
Vegetable gardens can combat malnutrition

afrol.com, 26 May  -  "Vegetable gardens at schools can help to combat malnutrition amongst children," This was one of the conclusions at a workshop presented by the South African Agricultural Research Council’s Institute Infruitec-Nietvoorbij in collaboration with the United Nations Society for International Development (SID) World Food Programme held at Stellenbosch recently.

The co-operation between the two bodies was triggered by an inexpensive system developed by a researcher of ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, which utilises household grey water for irrigation and cultivation of vegetables and fruit. This "wagon-wheel" system has been erected at several schools and communities and it can produce up to 500kg of vegetables per annum. SID was extremely impressed by this system and has included it in their World Food Programme comprising of 31 participating countries.

The theme of the workshop was: "Food Security and Sustainable Livelihoods: Local innovations against hunger." Dr Brigalia Bam of the Independent Electoral Commission, and South African representative on the SID Board, said in her speech that 90% of the Sowetan youth have never planted anything. Because the children never touch the soil, they do not learn to love it or develop an interest in agriculture. "Teaching children how to grow school gardens should be part of the curriculum," she pleaded.

Prof Elsa Albertse, a nutritionist who has done extensive research on stunted growth amongst children in the Northern Province, stressed the importance of vitamins in a diet, as vitamin deficiency can lead to malnutrition. Prof Jan Low, an agricultural economist from Mozambique, praised the exceptional potential of the vitamin rich orange-coloured sweet potato.

Mr Gerrie Albertse, the designer of the wagon-wheel system, reported back on two case studies done at Leliefontein and Waenhuiskrans.

He said: "Vegetable gardens can be used effectively in combating malnutrition. These gardens have many advantages. It teaches children how to plant seedlings and how to care for the garden. These vegetables are used to supplement the school-feeding programme and surplus vegetables and seedlings can be sold. Products can also be dried and preserved, generating income for the community through value-adding."

School principals and other community leaders also gave feedback on vegetable gardens during the workshop.

Source: ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij

© afrol.com. Texts and graphics may be reproduced freely, under the condition that their origin is clearly referred to, see Conditions.    You can contact us at mail@afrol.com