The Bomet County Government is targeting to cultivate more than 150 acres of iron-rich beans as part of an ambitious school feeding programme.
The initiative aims to improve the nutrition and overall health of school-going children across the county.
The programme is being spearheaded through the County Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in partnership with HarvestPlus, with stakeholders already undergoing sensitisation on the establishment of High Iron Bean (HIB) school gardens in selected schools.
The project targets the production of approximately 60 metric tonnes of High Iron Bean grains per season to support school feeding initiatives in learning institutions across the county.
Speaking during a sensitisation workshop, County Director of Nutrition Caroline Terer underscored the importance of iron-rich diets in enhancing the wellbeing and academic performance of learners.
“Iron-rich diets are essential in improving learners’ concentration, health, and academic performance. This programme will go a long way in addressing nutritional deficiencies among school children,” said Ms. Terer.
She noted that the initiative is a collaborative effort involving the county departments of Agriculture, Health, and Education in partnership with HarvestPlus.
According to the nutrition director, the programme seeks not only to improve nutrition among learners but also to strengthen food security and promote sustainable agricultural practices in schools.
County Director of Education Leonard Ngugi lauded the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that would positively impact learners across the county.
“This is a commendable initiative that will greatly benefit our learners. Strong collaboration among all stakeholders will be key to ensuring successful implementation of the programme,” said Mr. Ngugi.
County Director of Agriculture David Korir called on local implementation teams to provide adequate technical and logistical support throughout the project period to guarantee the success of the initiative.
“We urge all teams involved to remain committed and provide the necessary support during implementation so that the project achieves its intended objectives,” Mr. Korir stated.
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Discussions during the sensitisation workshop focused on the school garden model, identification of beneficiary schools, seed distribution plans, seed quality assurance, and the implementation framework.
County officials expressed optimism that the initiative would significantly contribute to combating iron deficiency among school children while improving food and nutrition security in the region.
By Kimutai Langat
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