The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has co-operated with the Ministry of Education to identify schools to host the schools garden project to support the schools meals program.
Minister Mariano Asanami Sabino said the program, launched several months ago by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and the Princess of Thailand, was part of a strategy to eliminate hunger in Timor-Leste.
“We have identified and orientated some schools,” he said
“We asked them to provide land and we supplied seeds and assistance to grow the plants.
“Everything else will be done by the teachers and students.”
He said the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries provided fish and vegetables to the schools.
The collaborative project between the two ministries was important as it allowed schools to be more self-sufficient, he said.
“Instead of buying canned fish from the store, we can plant and rear food ourselves,”
Three schools in each district will run pilot projects of the gardening initiative. Some schools were not suited to running the projects as they lacked sufficient land, he said.
Commission F (health, education, culture, veterans’ and gender equality affairs) member Deputy Ilda Maria da Conceicao said the program was a good way to support the school meals program and would help secure food sustainability to improve child nutrition.
The program could also run within villages, she said.
“Then they can supply food to schools, rather than having the teachers buying canned fish,” she said.
HIAM Health director Rosaria Martins da Cruz praised the government for commencing the program and called for it to be continued.
“I have been dreaming about this for long time; to educate and teach the children about plants that provide nutrition for the human body,” she said.
