Malnutrition remains widespread in Tanzania. Although more than two-thirds of the Tanzanian population works in agriculture, the agricultural sector is underdeveloped and prone to crises. The reasons for this include a lack of agricultural knowledge and unsustainable farming practices. The consequences are environmental destruction, erosion, and loss of soil fertility. The situation is being exacerbated by increasing droughts as a result of climate change.

A healthy and balanced diet is particularly important for children and young people. School meals in Tanzania are also generally very monotonous. The staple food is the traditional corn porridge (ugali) with a bean sauce. Other vegetables and fruit are only available in very small portions, if at all. The situation is not much different in many of the students' families. Some even come to school on an empty stomach. The reason for this situation is poverty, but also a lack of knowledge about the importance of a balanced diet for healthy development and physical and mental performance.

In our school garden projects, children learn about healthy eating and gain practical experience in school garden clubs on how to garden in an ecologically sustainable, climate-adapted way that uses little water. In addition, the produce from the school gardens contributes to improving school meals. The children and their families also learn how to grow vegetables at home in a small space and with few resources, enabling them to improve their diet at home as well.

In addition, many people are unaware of how important a healthy and balanced diet is for healthy development. School meals in Tanzania are also generally very monotonous. The staple food is the typical corn porridge (ugali) with a bean sauce. Other vegetables and fruit are only available in very small portions, if at all.

Ecological horticulture offers prospects for the future

Ecological school gardens offer several opportunities: they combat malnutrition by providing healthier and more balanced school meals, and they open up interesting future prospects for students by teaching them theoretical and practical ecological gardening skills at school. In Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT), PROBONO has found a local partner that is a pioneer in organic farming in Tanzania and has extensive experience with school projects.