The second annual Best School Mini Garden 2025 competition has come to an end, transforming ordinary schoolyards into vibrant living laboratories. Under the motto “Treasures of the Earth: An Organic Garden of Dreams,” schoolchildren, teachers, and parents worked side by side to create, cultivate, and innovate, demonstrating that caring for the land yields not only fresh produce but also helps make communities stronger and obtain new knowledge.
The competition, organized by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan, the UN World Food Programme, and the Russian Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute (SIFI), became a true celebration of environmental awareness and practical agriculture. Participating schools competed in three main categories: Best Orchard, Best Vegetable Garden, and Best Greenhouse.
After a thorough review by an evaluation committee composed of ministry representatives and invited experts, the moment of truth arrived. The winners were selected not only for the abundance of their harvest but also for the quality of their presentations, their engagement with the local community, and the effective use of organic farming principles.
Congratulations to all winners and runners-up!
Best Orchard
1st place: School No. 7, Yovon District, Khatlon Province
2nd place: School No. 4, Devashtich District, Sughd Province
Best Vegetable Garden
1st place: School No. 12, Ayni District, Sughd Province
2nd place: School No. 17, Isfara City, Sughd Province
Best Greenhouse
1st place: School No. 48, Devashtich District, Sughd Province
2nd place: School No. 16, Panjakent District, Sughd Province
Young talents also received well-deserved recognition. In the creative drawing competition, Alimuhammad Akhmedov, a 4th-grader from School No. 4 in Devashtich District (Sughd Province), claimed first place with his artwork “Magic Treasures of Our Dream Garden,” admired by the jury for its sincerity and vibrant colors. In the essay competition on the theme “Treasures of the Earth: The Future in Our Hands,” Alibek Turdiev, a 7th-grader from School No. 12 in Ayni District (Sughd Province), was named the winner for his thoughtful reflection on the importance of organic agriculture.
Winners in the main categories will receive grants of 10,000 somoni to support the development of their green projects, while runners-up will get valuable equipment for their school gardens.
Yet the most meaningful prize for every participating school was the shared experience. Children, teachers, and parents worked together, digging, planting, and watering. As they watched a tiny seed turn into a crisp radish or ripe tomato, they discovered that they are true heroes who can reveal the “treasures of the Earth” and make the world a better place.
Although the competition has concluded, it marks only the beginning of a larger journey. “The school garden as a point of growth” slogan has become a reality for dozens of schools across the country, and there is no doubt that the seeds sown this year will yield a rich harvest of new knowledge, healthy habits, and even more inspiring projects in the years ahead.