School embarks on agricultural projects

CHITAKATIRA Primary School in Manicaland Province has embarked on agricultural projects to ensure food security in the community and at household level.

The headmaster Mr Mabasa Muteedzi said the school had engaged on piggery, rabbit-rearing and vegetable production.

The projects sought to benefit over 2 000 pupils through the school feeding programme and helping the community to ensure food security.

“Our agriculture projects are progressing well, we have a piggery and rabbit project that is running, we also grow maize and vegetables.

“When we sell our products like pork and vegetables to the community, we use the money to meet the school’s expenses. We also feed the kids who are learning here under the school feeding programme.

“We are hoping that next year we will expand our projects and engage in poultry as well as fisheries,” said Mr Muteedzi.

He said the school had in the past faced challenges of water supply, but a community organisation donated a water tank.

“With additional water supply, we are now able to expand our projects. We are also trying to establish an orchard in our garden. We have over 1 500 paw-paw seedlings that we hope to plant,” he said.

Mr Muteedzi added that the school was a pioneer in terms of the schools’ feeding programme which had been very successful.

“Chitakatira area is known for its good climatic conditions which have seen the area lead in the production of agriculture. Communities that have been engaged in agriculture projects have improved their yields and ensured food security at household level,” said Mr Muteedzi.