“We are Sending You as Ambassadors of Food Security Not Only in Your villages But Also in the Whole Country”, Says Mr. John to SARD Students

By Baraka

As students at Sustainable Agriculture for Rural Development (SARD) commence their end-term exams, Mr. John Mwendwa, the Principal of SARD institute told the students who are soon finishing their course to remember that they are sending them out as ambassadors of food security not only in their villages but also in the whole country adding that food can be a bridge to peace and it’s only together that we can cultivate for a better future.

“My message to the students is that as they are now going out, we are wishing them all the best to go and deliver what they have been taught, to put their skills into practice, and produce enough food to sustain themselves and the whole country. We are sending them as ambassadors of food security not only in their villages but also the whole country”.                  

Fr. Dominic Sasa blessed the students and give them words of encouragement.

In a sideline interview with Rurugene Online Newsletter. The principal underscored that “SARD institute is unique in its own way since it majors on practical skills innovative which is able to sustain the available resources, able to control pest and diseases in different ways like field hygiene, use of the organic method and use of cultural methods among others”.

He continued, “Sustainable agriculture, is advocating for sustainable use of the available resources by improving the livelihood and meeting the needs of the family adding the impact SARD institute is already seen and more so in the institute and in the individual farms of the students toward production and we look forward to providing enough food for the whole state and the country as whole. Most of the parishes are now emulating and soon we are going to be better in food production than before.  

When asked about the challenges they are experiencing, Mr. John highlighted that the dropout of students after being enrolled in the institute, inadequate facilitators, lack of livestock units for practicals, students unable to pay their school fees, the low turnout of recruits, and lack of incentives for the staff among other, are the challenges they are facing. 

The next intake is ongoing for September and targets all young men and women with senior 4 certificates or national examination certificates who have a passion for agriculture. They are also offering short courses for NGOs and farmers’ groups for two weeks, and 3 months for individuals or groups, and the long course takes 16 months.            

SARD Institute is an initiative of the Catholic Diocese of Tambura Yambio initiated in 2021, with the sole objective to transform a peaceful, food secure, and economically enable society through improved modern sustainable agriculture.

The students are learning different components of agriculture practice with others set to complete their course units this year.   

Last month, the state minister for agriculture and the bishop of the CDTY, paid an inspection visit to SARD Institute to inspect the practical learning of different components of agriculture.