Sidakeni Primary reaches final of national gardening contest

Sidakeni Primary School in Cacadu (formerly Lady Frere) has been selected as a finalist in the annual National EduPlant School Gardening Competition.

Sidakeni, along with fellow Eastern Cape finalists Elufefeni Primary School and Mfesane Senior Secondary School in Motherwell, Gqeberha and St Colmcille Secondary School in Kirkwood, will compete against 32 other schools nationwide for the top three places, nine winning provincial schools, and ‘fan favourite’ prize.

EduPlant is SA’s national school nutrition and food security programme.

Initiated in 1994 and implemented by Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA), the EduPlant has been supported by Tiger Brands since 2019.

The four finalist Eastern Cape food gardens are part of 300 schools across the country on boarded as EduPlant participants at the start of 2022.

They have since received extensive training in permaculture practices to assist them grow their own vegetables, fruit, and herbs.

The produce is harvested and served as part of the schools’ learner feeding programme. Any surplus crops are shared by the school with surrounding communities.

Food & Trees for Africa EduPlant manager Bharathi Tugh said: “These finalists showcase how gardens function as outdoor classrooms; they become a tool for garden-based learning and education.

“The focus of our schoolbased production sites is agriculture, natural sciences, and nutrition.

“In many instances, pupils and teachers transfer their newly acquired subsistence agriculture skills and knowledge to surrounding community members who, in turn, have created their own food gardens to meet the nutrition needs of their families and to generate a small income for themselves,” Tugh said.

Tiger Brands corporate affairs director Lulu Khumalo said they were extremely proud of the commitment and dedication displayed by the finalist schools to improve food security among pupils and their surrounding communities in a sustainable manner.

“The power of the EduPlant initiative is that it empowers young people to take charge of their nutritional needs and to pass their newfound knowledge onto those around them.

“The leading schools have made a personal commitment to improving lives through their dedication,” Khumalo said.

Finalist schools will be judged on their ability to apply permaculture and environmental ethics learnt in participatory, interactive workshops.

The final winners of the competition will be announced on Tuesday October 31.