Whole school agroecology approaches improve resilience at schools amidst COVID19

Despite COVID19 induced lockdowns that have been instituted over the past few months in Zimbabwe, several schools have managed to continue implementing their projects and coming up with self-sustaining agroecology designs.

Notably, Poshayi Primary School in Shurugwi has managed to successfully grow tomatoes, onions and carrots in their school market garden. The produce has gone a long way in supplementing the school requirements amidst the long closure. They provide income and vegetable meal requirements at the school.

Carrots production at Poshayi Primary School - Shurugwi

Maphisa Primary school in Bulawayo has also shared their flourishing gardens with nutritious diverse vegetables and herbs. The wide variety of vegetables include covo, rape, tomatoes and carrots. The school has managed to harvest an average of 20kgs of tomatoes per month and 15-20 bundles of rape and covo combined per month.

Renewed designs at Glen View 6 Primary School

Meanwhile, in Harare, Glen View 6 Primary School replanted diverse vegetables; including beans in their kitchen garden. In addition, they managed to plant covo seedlings which they are selling to locals at ZW$100 per bundle. In the last month they managed to sell seedlings worth ZW$1500.

Vegetables at Maphisa Primary School

With such pleasant feedback, SCOPE Zimbabwe anticipates that schools will continue on a growth trajectory towards achieving self-sufficiency amidst many challenges within nutrition and education responses.