The parish priest of Our Lady of Sorrows in Kapoeta South County, Eastern Equatoria, has called on development partners to support school garden initiatives as a solution to hunger in schools.
Speaking at Kotome Primary School on Monday during the
International Day of the African Child celebration, Fr. Joseph Otto emphasized
the importance of agriculture in improving education outcomes.
“Agriculture is the backbone. Next academic year, we need to
take this program of having school garden seriously. School will be able to
produce something that will make children study and will be able to fight
hunger because hunger will not make us progress in education,” said Otto.
Fr. Otto urged all schools to establish gardens by next
academic year to help provide food for learners. He noted that many school
gardens have failed because communities have not embraced agriculture as a key
part of their lives.
The priest warned that students cannot concentrate in class
on an empty stomach and said poor nutrition is directly linked to poor academic
performance.
He appealed to both local and international partners to
support farming not only in schools but also in communities to build long-term
self-reliance.