Laikipia schools adopt climate-smart farming to boost feeding programmes

Schools in Laikipia are adopting climate-smart agriculture to strengthen feeding programmes, as education stakeholders seek lasting solutions to hunger that continues to disrupt learning in the region's semi-arid areas.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Segera School Feeding Programme in partnership with Miti Alliance, is encouraging schools to establish greenhouses, kitchen gardens and water harvesting systems to enable them to produce food throughout the year despite erratic rainfall.

"Our role as Miti Alliance has been to share about the successes of the school feeding programme, the challenges that most schools are facing, and the importance of having greenhouse, kitchen gardens that will ensure a school meets its food needs," Miti Alliance representative Michael Waiyaki said.

Many parts of Laikipia experience prolonged dry spells that often lead to food shortages, leaving vulnerable families struggling to provide regular meals for their children.

Hunger has contributed to absenteeism, poor concentration in class and, in some cases, school dropouts as learners are forced to stay at home or accompany their families in search of food and water.

The climate-smart farming initiative aims to reverse the trend by enabling schools to grow their own food while reducing dependence on external donations.

The programme promotes efficient water use, greenhouse farming and cultivation of fast-maturing crops that can withstand harsh weather conditions.

Waiyaki said proper utilisation of available land, water conservation and collaboration among schools, communities and development partners will enable learning institutions to become self-sustaining and guarantee a reliable supply of food for school feeding programmes.

The initiative has already brought together teachers from 10 schools to develop strategies for establishing greenhouses based on the resources available in each institution, with partners expected to provide technical support throughout implementation.

Uaso Ngiro Comprehensive School headteacher Isaac Mute, who is leading the programme, said schools have agreed on a roadmap that will guide the rollout of climate-smart farming projects across participating institutions.

"Today, we have deliberated on how to start smart farming and how greenhouses will be installed in schools, depending on the availability of some essential requirements," Mute said.

He expressed confidence that the programme will succeed through collaboration among teachers, parents, learners and community members, noting that development partners have committed to supporting schools as they establish sustainable food production systems.

Segera School Feeding Programme founder Koome Kiragu said teachers have been equipped with practical knowledge on greenhouse farming and other sustainable agricultural practices that will enable schools to produce food for their learners while reducing operational costs.

Kiragu described the initiative as an important step towards ensuring school feeding programmes remain operational even during droughts.

He however called for increased government investment in school feeding programmes, saying stronger public funding will help ensure every learner has access to nutritious meals and an environment that supports regular school attendance and improved academic performance.

Some schools are already recording positive results after embracing school-based farming.

At Mt Kenya Primary School, headteacher Mary Karumba said support from development partners enabled the school to cultivate a one-acre farm where maize production has significantly strengthened its feeding programme.

"We have so far harvested about 30 bags, and over the three planting seasons we have benefited greatly from the project. It has supported our school feeding programme, enabling us to provide food for the children," Karumba said.

She said the school also harvests sufficient maize to prepare porridge for learners throughout the term.

Encouraged by the success, the school now plans to establish a greenhouse on another piece of land to diversify food production, improve nutrition and generate additional income.

She said expanding climate-smart agriculture in schools offers a practical solution to recurring food insecurity in arid and semi-arid regions.