As the rainy season begins, land for school gardens is being prepared – communities are gathering to build fences to keep out hungry goats, oxen are pulling ploughs to prepare the soil, and seeds are being planted in hope that when students return to school in October that there will be a plentiful harvest and enough food to provide breakfast for students and teachers. 

FAR has been working with ten schools in South Kordofan to provide a morning meal, which has proven to be a great incentive for students to attend classes.  The school feeding programmes have traditionally seen FAR provide food directly to the school.  Students were also asked to bring a contribution of sorghum at harvest time. 

In order to make this programme sustainable, FAR is working with schools to grow their own food this year, in hope that it will continue into the future.  Maintaining the gardens is a joint effort between the Parent-Teachers’ Association and students.  

The Nuba Mountains is largely agriculturally based and in the past, basic farming was part of primary education; however, conflict in the area disrupted both education and farming.  Since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, families have returned to caring for their fields and many children have returned to school. 

The long break from regular agricultural activities means that younger generations have not necessarily learned essential farming skills.  The school gardens provide an excellent classroom for agricultural lessons and exploration - students are expected to take part in every step of cultivation, from land preparation to planting to harvest.

FAR is hopeful that these school gardens will be a sustainable source of food for school breakfast programmes, which will then encourage students to attend classes and be able to concentrate and learn.