Nutrition plays a vital role in the well-being of a child, but owing to the high levels of poverty in the country, not all children are lucky to have a meal. This has prompted the government of South Africa to introduce feeding schemes at schools, but that program has had its shortcomings.
In a bid to curb that, the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation has gifted a Soweto school with a greenhouse garden that will serve as a source of fresh vegetables and a learning process for the learners.
Learners and educators at the Forte Secondary School in Dobsonville were excited as the hydroponic and traditional crop-producing project was launched last week. Hydroponic farming involves growing plants without soil by using water enriched with nutrients.
It was explained that the project aims to supplement the school’s feeding scheme with more nutritional foods. The project also offers learners the opportunity to learn more about the agriculture and farming sector. The garden consists of potatoes, onions, lettuce, cabbage, beetroot, and spinach, which will provide the learners with minerals such as potassium, vitamins, fiber, and carbohydrates.
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