Fifty vegetable seed kits and 50 bags of brown beans were recently handed over to 19 schools across the West Rand to help support food security and sustainable gardening in education environments.

On September 19, the Department of Basic Education’s Gauteng West district office, situated in Greenhills, hosted the handover in partnership with the Mogale City Business Committee NPC (MCBC NPC) and AGT Foods Africa in Krugersdorp.

The schools had representatives who were welcomed by the stakeholders before collecting the kits.

According to the chairperson at MCBC NPC, Gideon Phiri, these representatives signed a collection register before being engaged with and receiving the food parcels. He added that they also took part in photo sessions and shared their challenges with sustaining food gardens.

He said the schools identified the necessities needed to help make gardening for food security easier. These needs include gardening tools, vegetable tunnels, access to water and irrigation systems, fertiliser and a reliable electricity supply.

The MCBC NPC has acknowledged these challenges and is committed to further engagement with AGT Foods Africa and other potential donors to mobilise additional resources that can strengthen and sustain school gardening projects.