MNU launches Campus Kitchen Garden Initiative

Maldives National University (MNU) has launched a campus kitchen garden at the university, in line with promoting sustainability.

MNU’s campus kitchen garden initiative has garnered support from the Australian High Commission in the Maldives and the University of Melbourne, Australia.

The inauguration ceremony was held earlier on June 05^th, and featured the opening remarks and vote of thanks from Abdul Rahman Mubaariqiue, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration and Finance, of MNU.

Australian High Commissioner to the Maldives David Jessup graced the event as the Chief Guest and ceremoniously planted the first seed. The Australian High Commission also provided a gardening kit to facilitate the project’s ongoing activities.

Additionally, Dr. Rhonda Di Biase, a visiting scholar from the Melbourne University, supported the project with practical ideas focused on sustainable practices relevant in the Maldivian context.

MNU’s kitchen garden project aims to foster sustainable outcomes and provide both curricular and co-curricular opportunities to its students. It also seeks to reconnect individuals with the sources of their food – understanding how they are grown and where it originates.

The garden beds were constructed using existing materials, such as bricks, ensuring quicker and easier building.

At the inauguration ceremony, various items ranging from pumpkin, basil, chili, and cucumber were planted in the garden beds.

The initiative also serves the purpose of providing a fresh supply of produce for the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism’s cooking classes, which would reduce dependency on imported food items.

Besides this, a composting system has been established to handle food scraps from the FHTS kitchen, with the local NGO Live and Learn providing training to students on effective composting strategies suitable for the Maldives.

MNU highlights its campus kitchen garden project also aims to address food waste issues, by reducing landfill waste and providing nourishment for the kitchen garden. The university promises the initiative, started at a small scale, has expansion plans across other MNU campuses and faculties.