School farms back

-Govt to support with partial grant, land development, seeds, fertilizer

By Selorm GBORBIDZI, Accra

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has unveiled an ambitious plan to revive school farms across the country.

The Ministry is urging schools with adequate land to register for the second phase of the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative.

School farms play a vital role in ensuring the availability, utilization, and access to school meals.

They recognize the link between education, nutrition, and skill development, thus improving access for all.

Aside from ensuring adequate food for students and staff, the initiative will enhance the practical studies of students in agriculture, which is the mainstay of the economy.

Hired labourers to maintain the farms

While students will use the farms to study, labourers will be hired to cultivate and maintain the farms.

Food and Agriculture Minister Dr. Bryan Acheampong announced that provision has been made for secondary schools to partner with the Ministry under phase two of the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme to produce their own foods.

5-year food security target

The Minister, who has set an ambitious target to achieve food security in five years, stated that the Ministry stands ready to help interested schools with land development, seeds, and fertilizer.

He explained that the Ministry would also assist schools with a partial grant programme, supplying them with inputs.

Dr. Acheampong said, “The Ministry stands ready to support every high school in Ghana willing to engage in school farming, especially those in the Southern and Middle belt.

“When schools are able to feed themselves, it leaves what our general farmers have planted for the market and the rest of the population.”

He expressed optimism that such an outcome would positively affect food prices and reduce demand pressures.

Encouraging the youth to take up agric

The sustainability of a vibrant agricultural economy depends on the young generation’s interest in farming.

A major concern for most farmers is the declining interest of students and youth in agriculture.

The educational system can help by reorganizing school curricula to include farming activities.

Feeding of students

The School Farm project can bring locally sourced and nutritious food to school cafeterias, improve child nutrition, offer nutrition education opportunities, and support local farmers.

The School Farm project will deliver locally grown food into school cafeterias, classrooms, and communities.

It will ensure students eat healthier foods, such as fruits, spices, and vegetables, creating positive relationships with the source of their food grown by the school.

The School farm is a place-based strategy benefiting children’s health and education, providing learning opportunities for sustainable living and healthy eating habits.

Agriculture in the curriculum

Since 1987, Ghana’s educational policies have included agriculture in the curriculum from Basic to Tertiary levels.

The teaching syllabuses for Senior Secondary School and Junior Secondary School Agriculture recommend school farms for effective teaching and learning.

Financial constraints hinder many schools from maintaining farms, yet agricultural education remains essential for Ghana’s development.