Earth School Cornocopia - Synergy India Foundation Hyderabad

About Cornocopia

Conversion of the available unused land in the institution into cultivable farmlands and produce organic vegetables and fruits to meet the requirement of the institution. Empower the students (6-9 grades) interest in agriculture by acquiring knowledge, and practical skills and exploring opportunities in agriculture.

The word ‘Cornucopia’ symbolizes ‘plenty’ – a container overflowing with flowers, fruit, and corn. Very thoughtfully named, SIF’s Cornucopia – the earth school project, focuses on developing:

Students’ ability to grow their own food in their own space.
Help students acquire knowledge, practical skills on agriculture and horticulture and develop capacities to grow their own food, to a certain extent, thereby aiding a chemical pesticide free, low cost and sustainable food habits.
Reduction in the feeding cost of the schools leading to overall reduction in food budgets.
Overall improvement in students’ attendance and higher enrollments.
Availability of highly balanced and nutritious meal grown by students in the school’s farms, enabling their physical, psychological and emotional development. Understanding environmental conservation and reduction in use of harmful chemicals in diet.
A paradigm-shift for students to develop a mindset for agri-preneur models rather than conservative farming

Vision:

To uncover and nurture the inherent love for the environment within each child by creating a natural, holistic, student-centred learning environment that empowers and inspires our students to love nature, and animals and contributes to its sustainability.

Mission:

To build the ability of the students to nurture life in all its diversity by utilising every form of living thing and non-living thing and also by following 3Rs very effectively and finally promote a clean, healthy and well-protected environment.

Significance:

“Life in present day circumstances is marked with numerous technological advancements and inventions that are geared to provide convenience to the public. Unfortunately, this convenience has made it easy to forget the survival skills that our elders and ancestors had ingrained in their way of life. One of these is agriculture and horticulture. Researchers have shown that when children grow their food, they develop “food empathy”, which is a deeper connection with food, which leads to a healthier life. Such children have better diets, and understand nutrition better.
Also, in today’s modern world, we come across children with behavioural issues, viz. anger, anxiety, depression, etc. These problems often leave a detrimental effect on their growth as adults. Numerous studies have shown that high-quality foods in schools correlate with better behaviour and higher levels of concentration. Furthermore, people who engage in growing their own food in their formative years, benefit from a calming activity that is highly kinaesthetic on a day-to-day basis. Therefore, agriculture and horticulture is a great way for students to self-soothe, reflect, gain tranquillity and grow as thoughtful individuals”

Impact:

The program is in its pilot stage and has covered 2826 students from over 5 institutions across the state of Telangana, from academic year 2020-21 onwards to till date (i.e., November 2022)

Future Possibilities:

Agriculture and allied activities account for about 15.7 % of India’s GDP and therefore there is a huge opportunity for students to pursue higher education in agriculture and also take up agriculture as a livelihood option as they grow up. Value-added agricultural products have great markets too. Profitability is also high in the organic and value-added farm produce segment. Therefore, it is apt to say, that the Cornucopia project is not only addressing the needs of food sustainability, emotional and physical wellness of students in school; but it is paving way for livelihood orientation as an informed choice, through hands on experience of agriculture within the school campus.
Further, the following additions can be made into the Cornucopia program for increased impact:

Placing honey bee boxes in the school farms, especially under the fruit trees will help in improved pollination and therefore higher yield of agriculture and horticulture produce.
A partnership with Govt. of India’s Sector Skills Council (https://asci-india.com/), for assessment and certification of students engaged under the Cornucopia project. This may open up newer avenues for academic and vocational skill building of these students from the livelihood perspective.

Project Background

The pilot project was undertaken by SIF and KVK Warangal is one of the TSWREIS institutions in Warangal. 3 months study by an Agri scientist was conducted including the teachers, students, and existing resources at the institution to understand the need and sustainability of the program. Earth School concept has evolved as part of this experiment to make the institutions self-sustainable and thus provide children of these institutes organic and nutritious food.

Role of Stakeholders

Synergy India Foundation

Project Execution

- - Provide technical support
- - Planning and execution of the project
- - Mobilizing the entrepreneurs
- - Monitoring and Evaluation of the project
- - Developing data management system – right from collecting the data of yield from the fields to being outsourced, and projecting the same in the dashboard for quick reviews
- - Supports the Swaeroes entrepreneurs in co-coordinating with CSA for any queries.
- - Research study on child health at the institution
- Going forward replicating the model in other institutions

Centre for Sustainable Agriculture

Project Partner

- - Capacity-building training for the Agripreneurs
- - Plan and suggest types of crop cultivation that can match the requirements of the institution
- - Provide Technology inputs and specialized Agri based skills
- - Hand. holding at every level
- Channelise government grants, subsidies, technology, and schemes for this program

Project Outcomes

- - Students to grow their own food in their own space.
- - Students will acquire knowledge, practical skills and explore opportunities in the agriculture Understand their own food system
- - Reduce the feeding cost of the schools and improve their health.
- - Regular attendance and an increase in the school enrolment.
- - It will also provide a highly balanced and nutritious meal from their own school’s farms, enabling their physical, psychological and emotional development and understanding the environmental conservation Reduce the use of harmful pesticides and plastic
- A paradigm shift from a conservative farmer to an Agripreneurs who will venture into a business model