Phechela Primary School Embraces Agriculture to Fight Hunger and Boost Self-Reliance

In a bid to combat hunger and promote self-reliance, Phechela Primary School has embarked on a sustainable agriculture initiative that includes crop production and piggery rearing. The school’s efforts aim to provide food for pupils while also generating income to meet various institutional needs.

Speaking in an interview, the school’s principal, Mr. Mokhele Khetsi, explained that the initiative was born in 2018 when the school management came together to explore ways of utilizing available land to enhance food security. Their decision to engage in farming has since grown into a well-established agricultural program that benefits both students and the school at large.

“We wanted to ensure that our pupils have access to nutritious food while also finding a way to generate income to support other school needs. Over the years, this initiative has expanded, and today, we have piggery projects, vegetable gardens, and field crops such as maize, beans, and wheat,” Mr. Khetsi said.

The school primarily uses its agricultural produce for subsistence purposes, ensuring that students receive meals enriched with fresh, homegrown ingredients. Any surplus produce is sold, allowing the school to reinvest the proceeds into maintaining and expanding its agricultural activities.

This initiative not only enhances food security but also provides students with hands-on agricultural skills, encouraging them to appreciate farming as a viable means of self-sufficiency. Through this model, Phechela Primary School is setting an example of how institutions can leverage agriculture to improve nutrition, foster independence, and create sustainable income streams.

The school remains committed to strengthening its agricultural practices and hopes to inspire other institutions to adopt similar self-sustaining programs to address food insecurity and financial challenges in schools.