IFAD-VCDP Launches School Vegetable Gardening Programme in Enugu Secondary Schools

The International Fund for Agricultural Development–Value Chain Development Programme (IFAD-VCDP) has launched a school vegetable gardening project in selected secondary schools across Enugu State as part of efforts to promote better nutrition and agricultural education among students.

The initiative was introduced in 10 secondary schools drawn from five local government areas currently participating in the programme. The benefiting council areas include Udenu, Isi-Uzo, Nkanu East, Enugu East, and Aninri, with two schools selected from each area.

Under the project, students will cultivate a variety of nutritious vegetables such as tomatoes, spinach, peppers, pumpkins, and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes. The programme is designed to provide practical agricultural experience while teaching students the importance of healthy eating and balanced nutrition.

Speaking during the launch at Girls Secondary School, Trans-Ekulu, Enugu, IFAD-VCDP Nutrition Officer, Promise Ezeah, explained that the school gardens would serve as learning centres where students can acquire valuable knowledge about nutrition, food production, and sustainable farming practices.

According to her, the project aims to empower students to become nutrition ambassadors who can share what they learn with their families and communities. She noted that each school’s nutrition club will consist of approximately 50 students who will receive educational materials, including posters, pamphlets, and record books.

The students will be trained in vegetable cultivation, modern agronomic practices, food hygiene, and proper nutrition. They will also learn how to keep records of harvests and sales, helping them understand basic agricultural entrepreneurship and project management.

Ezeah emphasized that the programme is designed to be self-sustaining. Students will be encouraged to preserve seeds from harvested crops and use proceeds from vegetable sales to support future planting seasons.

A key feature of the initiative is its focus on environmentally friendly farming methods. The vegetables will be grown using organic manure, particularly poultry waste, rather than chemical fertilizers. This approach promotes safer food production while teaching students the benefits of sustainable agriculture.

The nutrition officer explained that IFAD-VCDP expanded its activities beyond rice and cassava production in 2022 by incorporating nutrition education into its agricultural interventions. The programme teaches participants how combining foods from different food groups can improve overall health and strengthen the immune system.

To ensure the project’s success, implementation will be monitored by IFAD-VCDP officials, agricultural extension officers, school administrators, heads of agricultural departments, and designated nutrition champions.

Educators have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention. The Head of the Agriculture Department at Girls Secondary School, Trans-Ekulu, Ngozika Nze, noted that many households rely heavily on carbohydrate-rich meals, making nutrition education more important than ever.

She expressed confidence that students would not only benefit personally from the programme but would also pass on their knowledge to other learners and community members. She added that seed preservation and annual cultivation would help sustain the project in the years ahead.

Similarly, teacher Ruth Irem commended IFAD-VCDP for introducing the nutrition club initiative, stating that it would encourage healthier eating habits among students while increasing their interest in agriculture and food production.

Education stakeholders believe the programme will contribute significantly to improving nutrition awareness, practical agricultural skills, and food security among young people in Enugu State.