Pick of the crop for Burundi school gardeners

Budding gardeners at seven elementary schools built by Cord are producing bumper harvests this year- helping to feed their families and raise school funds. 

Pupils at Murembera, Shembe, Kabingo, Gasozi, Rutoki, Bukeno and Bweru schools in Giharo Commune say their cabbage, soya, peanuts and beans have all yeilded good production, with cabbage the king of the crop.

Photo: David Morphew

Shembe School garden was the most prolific, producing 2500kg of cabbage, closely followed by Kabingo and Bweru.

Gasozi School was top producer of soya with 160kg and 80kg at Rutoke, while Bekeno beat all competition with their 150kg of beans. Peanuts will be harvested in the coming month.

The gardens not only offer opportunities for pupils to learn agricultural techniques that they can replicate at home ,but also mean that families are better nourished thanks to eating the result of their children’s labour.