The Science-Based School Farming in rural areas

Basic human need: School Based Food Security

An estimated annual income of Burirum province is only 1,838 USD per person (Provincial Fiscal Report, Office of comptroller general department of Burirum province). It has left nutrition priorities at the bottom of the list for families. Most of the family has no own land. The parents work as general laborers in the community with no stable income. And they do agriculture e.g. rice fields, sugarcane and cassava. In addition, they do animal farming e.g. chicken, pigs, buffaloes, cows, etc. There is barely enough income to afford the meal for a day. Without a good meal not only affects the physical growth and development of the younger generation, but also their ability to learn, attend and focus at school, and participate in community life. Schools also struggle to provide students with nutritious meals while keeping costs within a tight budget.

Burirum Province experiences drought every year. Farming yield low productivity and causes most parents to migrate to Bangkok or other big cities for casual labor, mostly construction labor. Children are either left behind at home with elderly relatives or migrate with their parents. Community and children’s special problemsare malnutrition, orphans living with the senior, poor or sick families which could not make a living, unsuitable behavior.

Mission: Empowering communities to give children a brighter future

• 5 Schools, 1,042 Students will join this program. They will learn agricultural skills and household accounting skills. 1,042 students will enjoy delicious and nutritious lunch every day. This will promote their ability to learn and fully concentrate with the class. The students also bring their agricultural skill to set up their mini farming at home as food resources.

Objectives:     

• To equip students with strengthened agricultural skills to ensure their long-term food security, health and general well-being.
• To promote students to start their mini farming project with agricultural initiatives aimed at providing sustainable local food sources for lunch and earn extra income.
• To build students’ self-discipline and teamwork skills.

Activities:

• Demonstration on Local chicken and hens raising
• Demonstration on duck raising
• Demonstration on fish and breeder frogs farming
• Demonstration on fruits and vegetables growing

These activities above aim to equip participants with knowledge of modern agricultural techniques and to encourage them to use new varieties and apply new techniques in their farming activities.

Program’s Result:

• Children participated in the program will learn and practice all aspects of farming.
• 1,042 students will have nutritious lunch every day.
• 1,042 students bring back their agricultural skills to start their mini farming at home.