The Gayaza Farm-Diet Scheme: an education programme in Uganda

This paper describes a scheme in which the production of food and the provision of a well-balanced diet became an integral part of the educational programme at a Senior Secondary Girl's Boarding School in Uganda. An account is given of the development of the school farm including crop and livestock enterprises. The part played by the girls in the day-to-day running of the various units of the farm is explained. The way in which the school diet was improved and nutrition education was given greater emphasis in the school curriculum, is described. The strength of the Farm-Diet Scheme was the integration of good farming practice and sound nutrition education with the formal pattern of secondary education. The follow-up project describes the way in which a preliminary assessment of the value of the scheme, was made. Women are predominantly the food crop farmers in Uganda and are largely responsible for the health and well-being of the family. A scheme of this nature has far reaching effects upon the community through girls who during their formal secondary education had their horizons widened regarding the importance of agriculture and nutrition in relation to good health.