As the World Food Day was marked in Tsirang yesterday, the agriculture and forests minister announced that the School Agriculture Programme (SAP) will see drastic changes.
The day was observed at Damphu Central School in Tsirang on the theme- Change the Future of Migration: Invest in Food Security and Rural Development.
Minister Tandin Dorji stressed the importance of the School Agriculture Program in ensuring food security in schools. The changes in programme, he said, would come in the form of budgetary support, organisation structure and also in terms of the importance given to it in the school curriculum.
Lyonpo announced that a national conference will be held sometime in December. “It will bring together the school focal agriculture teachers, policy makers, representatives from the donor agencies and other stakeholders to work out future plans for the program,” said the minister.
At the event, schools with successful agricultural programmes were rewarded. Damphu Central School and Genekha Lower Secondary School were named as the top schools. This is their third consecutive win.
Lharing Primary School in Sarpang took the first position in the primary school level.
“Through our SAP programme, we focus on skills development and not profit making,” said Dawa Tshering from Damphu Central School.
“Whatever we produce is sold in the school mess,” said Kinley Namgyel, the agriculture focal teacher of Wangbarma Central School.
“50 per cent of the income generated from it is refunded to the students and the remaining 50 per cent is set aside for the programme to sustain it in the long run. As of today, we have saved almost Nu, 300,000.”
Meanwhile, Zangkhar Primary School from Lhuentse has won the best model farm school title.
The importance of consuming fortified rice, meat and the right amount of salt intake were also stressed as part of the event. The agriculture and forests minister also shared that rural development and food self sufficiency are among the top priorities for the 12the Five Year Plan (FYP).
