As part of its ongoing commitment to promoting food security and sustainable agriculture, Christian Food Aid International Organisation hosted a comprehensive two-day in-house training for agricultural science teachers and project staff involved in the Sustainable Agriculture Education and Empowerment (SAEE) Program. The training, hosted at the CFA office in Ile-Ife, Osun State, centered on equipping participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to implement Pfumvudza, a climate-smart farming model, in secondary schools.
The primary aim was to deepen understanding and improve implementation of Pfumvudza, a conservation-based farming technique adapted for local Nigerian school environments. The training served as a critical capacity-building effort to align all stakeholders with the project’s objectives, fostering food self-sufficiency through eco-friendly and faith-driven agricultural practices.
Day 1: Foundations for Sustainable Farming
Day one introduced participants to the Foundations for Farming model, addressing the dangers of conventional ploughing and promoting soil health, rainwater retention, and reduced erosion.
Sessions included:
- The Principles of Foundations for Farming (FfF)
- The Folly of Ploughing
- Soil and Rainfall: The Foundation of Productivity
- Planning and Preparation with Pfumvudza
The use of visual aids, real-life farming examples, and hands-on exercises brought the sessions to life. Participants also engaged in deep reflections on the principle of “Farming God’s Way”, reinforcing the spiritual and ecological vision behind the SAEE program.
Day 2: Implementing and Sustaining the System
The second day focused on real-world strategies for maintaining a successful school farm and maximising crop yield.
Participants learnt how to:
- Nurture crops after planting
- Prepare and apply organic compost
- Identify and manage pests and diseases sustainably
- Preserve harvests with improved storage techniques
- Apply agroforestry and mulching for climate resilience
- Practical Demonstration: Marking a Pfumvudza Plot
This day concluded with a robust discussion on individual action plans, as teachers outlined how they intended to implement the new knowledge in their respective schools.
Outcome and Reflections
The training was well attended by teachers from Moremi High School, Ife Girls’ Grammar School, Modakeke Islamic, St. John’s Grammar School, and School of Science. Staff from CFA, including agric officers, interns, and the M&E, also actively participated.
The focal teachers expressed increased confidence in both the theory and practice of Pfumvudza, with many stating that they now felt better equipped to transfer this knowledge to students and guide their schools in cultivating successful school farms.
A Step Forward in the SAEE Journey
This training marks another milestone in the SAEE program’s rollout. Christian Food Aid believes that when teachers are empowered, students thrive. By equipping focal teachers with the tools to teach sustainable agriculture, we move one step closer to achieving our vision: a future where no student goes to bed hungry and every school becomes a beacon of productivity and purpose.
As we move forward, the lessons from this training will shape future engagements, monitoring strategies, and support systems for participating schools.