The competition aims to educate the youth on the significance of food security
Qur’anic Botanic Garden (QBG), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), launched an agricultural competition for schools in Qatar participating in its wider food security programme which was inaugurated in October 2017.
The competition which, so far, includes 13 schools, will see students cultivate fresh produce using the skills they acquired through the QBG food security programme. Students will also be encouraged to think of innovative solutions to better manage the land they are farming.
According to QBG Project Manager Fatima Saleh Al Khulaifi, they are trying to engage with the youth, and raise awareness on the importance of food security, through the programme.
“Equipping these young men and women with the tools and knowledge to grow their own agricultural produce will allow students to gain real-life, hands-on experience, and learnings on how to overcome challenges.”
QBG is also providing additional support by advising schools on methods of agricultural production that are more suited to Qatar’s climate, and the use of modern technologies, such as the latest models of irrigation in cultivating produce.
The top three schools will be announced on 26 February, during the QBG Qatar Environment Day celebrations. A jury of experts will inspect the farms established by students to evaluate the systems used and the quality of fresh produce cultivated. Winners will be selected based on the criteria developed by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, and QBG.
Raising awareness on the importance of food security is one of QBG’s key objectives, and its ambitious programme aims to achieve this through the provision of hands-on workshops and training sessions for school children delivered throughout the school year. There are currently 90 students enrolled in the QBG programme.
For more details about the competition, visit the QBG website at qbg.org.qa.
