Schools can win big in Best School Garden of the Year competition

The Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) is calling on schools with active gardens to participate in the competition for the Best School Garden of the Year.

The due date for submitting entry forms is 20 July.

The competition falls under the National Agronomy Awards (NAHA) held annually by the NAB, aimed at recognising and rewarding value chain actors such as producers, traders, service providers and school gardens that have contributed significantly to the development and growth of Namibia’s agronomy and horticulture industries.

NAB said the 2024 NAHA awards will be hosted in the north-central production zone at Olushandja in the Omusati Region on 19 September.

The competition aims to identify schools that have extended teaching and learning beyond classroom settings by incorporating gardening.



Best of the best

According to the NAB, schools should demonstrate how the school garden aids practical teaching and learning for agriculture subjects, and selected agriculture learners will be interviewed.

The school must also act as an example for other school gardens in the circuit or region and have a clear sustainability plan in place.

Once the application has been received, NAB will establish a team of five experts to assess all the qualifying school gardens in the field that meet the eligibility criteria. The winner will be notified within seven days after the completion of the field assessment to be done in line with the selection criteria.

The winner will participate in the NAHA awards ceremony and will walk away with a certificate and an award valued at N$30 000 to be used for the purposes of maintaining and improving the school garden, the NAB said.