The Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) is inviting schools with active vegetable gardens to enter the annual National Agronomy and Horticulture Awards competition, aimed at recognising and rewarding top producers, traders, service providers.
According to NAB, the awards ceremony will be hosted on 14 September at the Mashare Irrigation Project in the Kavango East region under the theme: ‘Promoting a Resilient, Sustainable and Profitable Industry’.
“Private and public schools with active gardens are urged to apply and participate in the competition for the Best School Garden of the Year.
“The competition aims to identify schools that have extended teaching and learning beyond the classroom settings by expanding it outside, through gardening,” said a NAB statement.
Schools are encouraged to enter the competition to enhance gardening/crop growing knowledge through interaction and networking with industry.
In addition, schools are urged to compete for the top prize to supplement the financial needs of the garden and to receive gardening training and mentorship services.
“This will also ensure continuous practical teaching and learning at school level as well as diversifying the daily meals for the school feeding programme,” said NAB.
Competing schools must have an operational and well-maintained garden, offer agriculture as a subject and have a dedicated person to take care of the garden, the statement said.
They must also plant two or more vegetable or grain crops per growing season and support the school feeding programme, as well as sell surplus produce to the surrounding community and local shops.
“The schools must have proper record keeping on garden sales and demonstrate how the school garden aids practical teaching and learning for agriculture subjects,” said NAB.
Schools entering the competition must collaborate with other school gardens for knowledge sharing and act as an example to other schools in the circuit or region. They must have a clear sustainability plan for the school garden.
The closing date for the submission of applications is 25 August, and once they are received, NAB will establish a team of experts to assess all the qualifying school gardens.
The winner will be awarded a certificate and N$30 000 prize money to be used for maintaining and improving the school garden.
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