Lodwar, 28th Feb 2025 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

Turkana County’s Executive for Education has urged Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers across Turkana to integrate agriculture into learning under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) to instil a passion for farming among young learners.

CEC Willyjustus Akwalata highlighted the department’s partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-led Nutrition and Food Security Improvement Program (IFNuS) to establish school agricultural gardens. The gardens serve both educational and nutritional purposes, ensuring learners acquire practical farming skills while benefiting from a diversified diet.

“We have been working closely with JICA to increase the number of schools with agricultural gardens under the ‘Vege-Lunch’ program. Learners gain hands-on experience in food production, from bush clearing to harvesting and eventually preparing meals,” Akwalata stated.

Initially IFNuS piloted in 60 schools, the five-year initiative has expanded to over 100 Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) centres.

Chief Officer for Education and Social Protection, Paul Lodunga, emphasized the importance of replicating best practices from successful schools.

“Akwangat ECDE in Turkana West is a prime example of how teachers can inspire a love for agriculture among learners and influence the community. The school has continued to reap the benefits of this initiative,” Lodunga noted.

The Chief Officer further addressed the cultural challenge that initially hindered the acceptance of vegetables in local diets. Traditionally, pastoralist communities regarded vegetables as inferior meals, but the ‘Vege-Lunch’ program is gradually reshaping this perception.

JICA’s IFNuS Project Team Leader, Fumiaki Murakami, underscored the nutritional benefits of the initiative, noting that vegetables are rich in vitamins often missing in the maize-and-beans meals commonly provided to learners.

“By encouraging children to consume vegetables during school lunch, we are not only enhancing dietary diversity but also fostering knowledge transfer to their homes through the agriculture diary program,” Murakami said.

The visit was attended by Deputy Director for ECDE Alice Ejem, ECDE Administrator Alice Akiru, Ward ECDE Coordinator Khadija Guyo and Loima ECDE Coordinator John Munyes.