Agriculture has for the longest time been the backbone of Africa’s economy, employing millions of Africans, approximately 43.8% of the population, as of 2020. Although this is so, many are reluctant to pursue agriculture due to several reasons, among them non-competitive salaries, the physical nature of agriculture, and lack of information about the industry. 

In Mauritius, agriculture contributes to approximately 3.5% of the economy’s gross domestic product (GDP), with a lot of its agricultural products being imported. To teach young children the importance of agriculture and the knowledge, abilities, values, and attitudes needed to live in, develop, and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society, Mkids Organization, a member of the GNRC, began an initiative to teach children the basics of traditional farming on rooftops. 

The ‘traditional farming on rooftops’ initiative is tailored for residents living in urban areas where most of the Mkids beneficiaries reside—farming is an alien concept to those living in these areas. The initiative imparts children with knowledge on traditional farming techniques, to foster a sense of connection to nature, and appreciation of where food comes from. 

In addition to teaching children about traditional farming techniques, Mkids further intends to equip then with knowledge and skills on aquaponics (where fish and plants are cultivated together in a constructed, recirculating ecosystem utilizing natural bacterial cycles to convert fish waste to plant nutrition). 

The project will benefit children with knowledge on environmentally friendly and sustainable forms of farming and include them as stakeholders in making a change in the society. 

“Our projects are tailored to foster a holistic understanding of agriculture and environmental stewardship and influence people to make informed decisions that positively impact their communities and the environment.” – Mkids