World Food Day-Anse Etoile school shows importance of traditional crops |06 November 2008

As a small island state, Seychelles would see its food production badly affected by climate change through a scarcity of water for agriculture in the dry season, and high temperatures and disastrous rainfall during the rainy season.

This will not only be a challenge for food production but will also increase the cost of food. Seychelles imports most of its food, and the cost of imports will surely affect local prices.

On top of that, the competition between land for food production and land to grow biofuel crops is also having a negative impact on the cost of food around the world.
 
It is, therefore, very important that local people try to understand the importance of cutting down on food wastage and try to produce more locally. Educating people on these global issues is seen as vital.

World Food Day features on the schools’ extra-curricular calendar. It encourages schools to organise activities that can help to educate students and staff on the importance of food in our everyday lives, which includes promoting healthy food and food security.

One of the schools that prepared something special on that day was Anse Etoile Primary. It held an exhibition in the district social centre for the school, parents and local community about traditional crops, especially those that are resistant to climate changes. 

The exhibition featured research by students and staff on traditional vegetables and fruits in Seychelles. A major element was the contribution parents and grandparents made in turning these crops into drinks, snacks, pickles and jams so the children and teachers visiting the exhibition could have a taste.
 
Interestingly, it was the first time some students and visitors had tasted some of these jams and snacks. Recipes were on display and were also given out on the spot by parents.

Students said during their research they found that many of the crops traditionally used by our elderly people are no longer being eaten or found important.

Yet they also discovered that most of those local fruits and vegetables have higher nutritional values than the imported ones. Some children said they wished the products on display, like jams and cakes, were available for sale in local shops.

One member of the research group said they set up the exhibition to try to educate people on the importance of traditional fruits and vegetables. She said that while she was working on the project, she realised that these local foods have nutritional and medicinal values and would bring economic benefits to our islands. Visitors also said they had learnt new ways of using local crops.

The school wishes to thank everyone who helped to organise the exhibition.

Afterwards, school children learned how to propagate trees through layering, and they planted a variety of traditional fruit trees in their school grounds.

Anse Etoile school deserves to be congratulated for this initiative, and the Ministry of Education would like to thank the parents and everyone else who helped to set up this interesting exhibition.

Environmental Education Unit, Ministry of Education