The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) is working in partnership with Sustainable Agriculture Pro (STAP) Vanuatu, Vanuatu Skills for Partnership (VSP) and local farmers to implement a ‘Farm to school’ project under the skills for agri-
The ‘Farm to school’ project was first introduced on Vanua Lava in TORBA province in November 2019 with the objective of creating and supporting a supply chain of vegetables, fish and eggs to schools.
The project is currently working with farmers of Lesara village, on East Vanua Lava to promote additional information on agricultural practices, local and healthy food and means of improving the local economy.
“Farm to school project aims to indirectly support schools with supply of food throughout the year.
“It is a first ever project that VSP wants to implement in Sola which is envisage as a model that can be replicated in other schools in Vanuatu should the benefits outweigh the negative ones,” TORBA Provincial Agriculture Officer (PAO), Peter Maoh said.
Currently, DARD is working with STAP Vanuatu and farmers to sow open pollinated (OP) vegetable seeds as much as possible since OP seeds can be collected and saved for the next planting season.
The farmers are trained to improve their production skills, create an organic seed bank, diversify production and also work with the Sola Market Association to consistently supply local farm produce to Baldwin Lonsdale Memorial College (BLMC).
BLMC is the first school to trial this project.
PAO Maoh mentioned that the vegetable seeds provided by STAP Vanuatu include carrot, zucchini, broccoli, capsicum, tomato in addition to other ones that DARD supplied to the farmers. Other support provided by DARD include technical advice and demonstration on various aspect of vegetable production that they can replicate on their farms.
“Prior to ‘Farm to school’ project, a ‘Farm to table’ concept was first introduced by VSP supported by DARD who works with farmers in preparation to implement the Farm to School project.”
Mr Maoh said VSP and STAP Vanuatu have collected some data on how many kilograms of produce a school will need anually in order execute the ‘Farm to school’ supply consistently.