The educational farm at Bertoua Bilingual High School has officially entered its operational phase following the launch of the “Cultivate to learn, produce to feed” project on October 27, 2026.
Spearheaded by the NGO Service for Support to Local Development Initiatives (Saild) and funded by the International Organisation of the Francophonie – OIF, the initiative aims to enhance student nutrition through the school canteen while delivering practical environmental education. The functional, irrigated site within the school grounds features demarcated plots, raised beds, a plant nursery, and a dedicated area for raising cockchafers.
Designed as an immersive educational tool, the school farm bridges agricultural production, food security, and academic learning. According to Project Manager Kévin Boucheke, the initiative provides students with hands-on exposure to agroecological practices and environmental stewardship.
The project’s holistic framework encompasses developing the farm’s physical infrastructure, training students and teachers, building a digital repository of agroecological resources, monitoring canteen integration, and publicizing best practices.
A central objective of the initiative is linking harvest directly to the school cafeteria to improve access to fresh, healthy meals. By producing crops locally, the school will lessen its dependence on external food supplies while offering students a living laboratory to study sustainable agriculture.
The Bertoua Bilingual High School was selected for this pilot program out of five shortlisted educational institutions in the Eastern Region, with formal endorsement from the regional delegate for secondary education.
With the facility fully equipped, the school is transitioning into active implementation, beginning with crop cultivation and specialized training sessions for staff and students. Project leaders intend for the farm to serve as a functional model for practical learning that demonstrates how educational institutions can combine agricultural production with secondary curriculum standards.
Beyond the immediate impact at Bertoua Bilingual High School, NGO Saild plans to scale the initiative across other academic institutions in the region.
By demonstrating the benefits of school-based agroecology, the project aims to establish a broader dynamic supporting sustainable education and long-term food sovereignty across Cameroon.
