Lesotho Launches School Gardens Campaign to Promote Nutrition and Agricultural Skills

On 27 November 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Training, celebrated the School Gardens Campaign with a special menu-testing event at Mapoteng Sebetia Primary School. The initiative aims to enhance nutrition, agricultural knowledge, and sustainable food production among learners across Lesotho.

The event highlighted the role of school gardens in providing students with access to fresh, healthy produce while teaching practical skills in crop cultivation and sustainable farming. Officials demonstrated how these gardens can improve children’s diets and foster an understanding of nutrition from an early age. Students participated in hands-on activities, learning about planting, harvesting, and maintaining vegetables and other crops.

During the menu-testing session, school officials and nutrition experts introduced innovative ways to incorporate garden produce into meals. The exercise showcased how locally grown vegetables can be used to prepare balanced, nutritious dishes, reinforcing the link between agriculture and healthy eating habits.

The School Gardens Campaign is part of a broader strategy to integrate agricultural education into schools, support food security, and encourage young learners to engage in sustainable farming practices. By equipping children with knowledge of crop production and healthy nutrition, the initiative also aims to instill lifelong habits that benefit families and communities.

Officials emphasized the importance of collaboration between the agriculture and education sectors to ensure the campaign’s success. The initiative not only addresses immediate nutrition needs but also fosters skills that can contribute to future economic opportunities in agriculture.

Through programs like the School Gardens Campaign, Lesotho is taking concrete steps to promote food security, improve child nutrition, and nurture a generation of learners who are equipped with both agricultural expertise and healthy lifestyle habits.