National Food Production Drive in Schools soon
View(s):All Govt schools have been directed to cultivate food produce within their premises, to contribute towards a National Food Production Drive.
A circular in this regard has been already issued by the Ministry of Education (MoE) advising schools to commence cultivation progammes from October 7.
Surveys reveal that, of the 10,000 schools in the country, 5,774 schools have more than 50 perches of cultivatable land. The schools with limited land will be expected to undertake Urban Agricultural Programmes to utilise the available limited space for cultivation. MoE Secretary Sunil Hettiarachchi told Education Times that the cultivation programmes will focus on cultivating cash crops to generate income.
“Under this programme, schools could also undertake income generating activities such as having aquariums and bee’s hives,” he said.
The cultivation should be without using agro chemicals or pesticides, to promote organic cultivation.Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said the respective principals would have to decide on the programmes’ modus operandi, to ensure that Educational activities are not affected.
The programme will be launched from the National schools in the Western Province and spread to other areas through 98 zonal offices.
Among the main objectives are utilisation of maximum agricultural facilities within schools, beautification of the school premises, promoting cultivation without using chemicals, and creating self-sufficiency. - Damith Wickremasekara