Teachers help to kick out hunger from Turkana

By Lucas Ng’asike

Primary school teachers in Turkana West District have been taught new farming methods to boost food security.

The teachers include those in schools in refugee camps in Turkana such as the Kakuma.

The teachers were introduced to irrigated kitchen gardens and management of small herds of livestock.

Teachers from Turkana West District survey a kale farm in Natuntun in Turkwel division. The teachers were on a field trip to study crop-farming technology in a project FAO funds. Photo: Lucas Ng’asike/Standard

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF), an NGO, has initiated the programme that kicked off on Tuesday.

The programme’s Turkana Project Officer Joseph Imuton said the teachers would undergo rigorous training to diversify their knowledge in crop production in schools.

He said the teachers were taken to Natuntun farm on an experimental tour, to get a first hand experience of the project.

Food secure

"We are sure at the end of the training we will produce qualified teachers who are able to diversify their practical knowledge by teaching fellow teachers and pupils in their respective schools to become food secure," Imuton said.

He said the teachers would train pupils on how to utilise the available land in schools for irrigation farming.

He said the Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and LWF, which is a FAO implementing agency, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education have supported the idea.

Mr Imuton said the kitchen garden projects target vulnerable children, adding that the projects would boost the livelihoods of vulnerable groups in schools.

He said local schools would benefit from the eight-month project that will ensure regular supply of food to pupils.

Most pupils in the arid area have had to be fed in school to ensure retention. In the past, majority dropped out of school due to hunger.

Imuton said they would later introduce the project to the local community as a measure to mitigate the effects of drought.

The local head of teachers training, Mr John Lokwang, said they would use the project to alleviate hunger and improve diets in schools.

Mr Lokwang said the project would also assist to advocate for reduction of relief dependency syndrome that has dragged the people of Turkana backwards.