YOUNG SCHOOL FARMERS CLUBS

Maboshe Memorial Centre (MMC) is implementing a young school gardening farmers clubs is a vocational education project run Maboshe Memorial Centre (MMC) a local grassroots NGO. Young school gardening farmers clubs trains school pupils in agricultural farming in order to maximize the impact of the school's organic garden business. Maboshe Memorial Centre (MMC) will identify 1,150 rural primary schools without school gardening programmes in Western of Zambia to be provided with vegetable seeds. The project's aim is to safeguard livelihoods, raise agriculture production & boost food security. They need one to supply their school feeding programmes. Securing even basic items such as garden tools is often a challenge. With the support from the Czech Republic, we will collaborate with 1,150 rural primary schools that will promote nutrition support for its children. Targeted vulnerable rural schools will be selected from the most vulnerable schools identified by the District Education Board Secretary & Provincial Education Officer (PEO) that are not receiving any vegetable gardening assistance from any organization or government and who are fulfilling the following criteria: - Mandatory criteria are;

• Access to land or own land.
• Land prepared in readiness to plant.
• Enough labour from school to manage the crops.

Maboshe Memorial Centre (MMC) will form the beneficiary selection committee at each school level, who will provide project team with the final list of selected beneficiaries' schools in Western of Zambia. Maboshe Memorial Centre (MMC) and the District Education Board Secretar will verify beneficiary list by conducting random sampling of the beneficiaries' schools to confirm that mandatory criteria are fulfilled. The decision behind of targeting the 1,150 rural primary schools in Western of Zambia is to ensure that schools will not sell seeds and fertilizers to satisfy their immediate needs and to cover their school gaps but school pupils will be helping to ensure food security for their schools and generate income by selling produce at their local markets. Small enterprises such these make all the difference to families in rural areas in breaking the cycle of poverty and contributing to the sustainable development of their communities.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS

• Sensitization of targeted beneficiaries: Maboshe Memorial Centre (MMC) in partnership with the Government Camp Extension Officers under the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) will sensitize targeted schools to ensure that land is prepared for planting before seeds are given which includes fertilizers, seeds, watering cans, sprayers and garden forks. Beneficiaries will be informed also of the school seed basket component, delivery date and delivery location.
• Procurement of seeds. Based on the discussions held with FAO & Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) agricultural specialist the following varieties of seed were recommended taking into account the specific context of districts of Western of Zambia. The seed types that were selected have the highest rate of success considering the type of soil and the timeframe for planting which end of February or early March. Our partner organization will procure vegetable seed in 25g sachets packet of cabbage, bulb onion, okra, fertilizer, fungal pesticides, watering cans, garden forks tomatoes and spraying tools & protective gear (spraying pump, gloves and masks).
• Transport of seeds, fertilizer, fungal pesticides, spraying tools & protective gear from the suppliers to final distribution points: MMC will require alternative transportation of all the mentioned items from the suppliers to the final distribution points.
• Distribution of seeds fertilizer, fungal pesticides, spraying tools & protective gear: MMC will distribute the items from the suppliers' warehouse in district with no access to warehouse directly to the school dropping points. Each targeted school will receive the following quantities of seeds: 25g cabbage, 25g bulb onion, 25g okra, 25g tomatoes, 200ml of fungal pesticide, 2lts spraying pump, gloves and masks, watering cans, garden forks, 50kg D compound and 25kg Urea fertilizer. The beneficiaries will be advised to plant only a portion of each seed type to cover the area of 1 lima and store the remaining seeds for the next planting season.
• Training: Based on the recommendation from MoA specialist and in order to increase production and minimize the losses due to poor management, partner oraginsation will conduct trainings with focus on the following:

I. Planting training before seed distribution (Early February), training teachers in areas of garden management, how to making and use compost, how and why to make raised beds, how to plant & weed your garden, organic pest control, in importance of crop rotation and effective and efficient harvesting techniques.

II. Crop management training two months after planting (Early April).

III. School Seed bank training and building (Preparing for autumn crop season (Early June).

• Monitoring: Personnel from the Ministry of Agriculture & MMC will conduct post distribution monitoring (Random sampling) in three stages:

I. Planting- Three weeks after distribution (February).

II. Active tillering- After 45 days (April).

III. Maturing - After 4 to 5 months (May).

• Community Feedback & Response Mechanism: Beneficiaries will be informed of the school feedback and response mechanism. MMC will be responsible for running school feedback and response mechanism.

EXPECTED IMPACTS AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROJECT OUTCOMES

Gardens are seen as important contributors to self-reliance and aim eventually to be self-supporting; schools 'graduate' when they no longer need help.

• Pupils learn agricultural skills for the future and will be able to earn a living.
• Contributes to the feeding/nutrition programmes by providing starter pack inputs, link school meals and is supported by classroom nutrition education and environmental education. It also promotes collaboration with public and private agencies for agriculture, waste management and health.
• Help schools raise money, which will be spent on purchasing bricks for the construction of a new school classrooms, feeding program, etc.
• The school can sell its surplus to the community and reduce the cost of school meals.
• Pupils' and teachers' nutrition and health are improved.
• Children learn to appreciate the value of vegetables in a balanced diet.
• The school's reputation is enhanced.
• Pupils get certificates in agriculture.
• The community gets seeds and seedlings and learns how to diversify traditional crops.
• To developed school food gardens to alleviate malnutrition and promote environmental education and sustainable natural resource management. Children learn to grow fruit and vegetables, eat some of the produce and sell the rest to raise funds
• Since 2019 MMC has trained 50 rural primary schools in organic agriculture practical elements in order to enable them to combat some of the immediate effects of climate change (mulching, crop rotation, tree planting, composting, rain water harvesting) alongside learning the business skills to budget, market and grade their crops.
• Children involved in club activities serve as change agents in their community.
• Learners report that they practice what they learn in club activities in their home gardens.
• Club activities help to strengthen agronomy and horticultural skills in an economy dependent on agriculture. Agriculture is no longer an examinable subject in primary schools in Zambia. Getting children interested in food production early in life exposes them to new technologies that they could use for future careers apart from active farming. These opportunities are in fields such as: agricultural extension, post-harvest management and storage, value addition, food science and technology, nutrition, agricultural mechanization/engineering, and many more.
• Club activities involvement allows children to practice leadership, responsibility and accountability at an early age. These are qualities that will make great leaders for Zambia in the future.
• Mentoring is an integral part of club activities and contributes to improved academic performance. Children who go through club activities are able to make good life choices, have high self-esteem and they serve as role models to their peers

Result: Schools are provided with agricultural inputs (Seeds, fertilizers) for crop production.

Outcome 1: Increase agricultural productivity and incomes of small-school scale food producers, through the implementation of resilient and sustainable agricultural practices (SDG Targets 2.3, 2.4).

Output 1.1: Strengthened access of small-school scale food producers to productive resources and agricultural inputs.

Output 1.2: Increased access and use of effective agricultural extension services, markets and opportunities for value addition.

Output 1.3: Ensured sustainable food production systems in schools.

 100% of Young school farmers will have confident in planting, growing and harvesting crops using organic techniques.

 100% of Young school farmers will feel they have had enough agricultural and entrepreneurial training to start their own gardens at home during and after school to improve their food security at household level.