By Michael Kofi Kenetey
In order to re-engage young people in agriculture, the Okanta Presby Basic School in the Abuakwa South Municipality of the Eastern Region has decided to participate in this year’s Blue Skies School Farm Project.
The school’s participation in the school farm project is to make the youth develop an interest in agriculture, acquire the techniques and skills of modern-day farming systems, and see agriculture as a lucrative venture.
In an interview with GBC Sunrise FM, the head teacher of Okanta Presby Basic School, Mesharck Okunnor, noted that after the clearing and preparation of the land, the school did a careful analysis and consultation on the various vegetables and settled on growing sweet pepper in the farm project.
He hinted that it is important that the pupils grow up learning something from the community they live in, hence the idea to participate in the Blue Skies School Farm Project. Mr. Okunnor mentioned that it is sometimes surprising that a youth will grow up in a farming community and have no knowledge, ideas, or skills in farming.
The Head teacher mentioned that the idea of their participation is also to teach the students how to do things on their own and not to have the mindset that it is only white-collar jobs that pay.
He appealed to government and other relevant stakeholders in the education sector to bring back agriculture as a standalone subject. He bemoaned why a country that has agriculture as its backbone would not teach agriculture in the basic school as a standalone subject.
Mr. Okunnor commended the Blue Skies Foundation, the teachers, students, and the community for their support. The Farm Manager of the Okanta Basic School Farm Project, Ebenezer Okpoti Kwao, who is also a teacher in the school, noted that he supported the project because it is a good initiative to help the students develop farming skills.
The Deputy PTA Chairman of the School, Hagan Appiah, noted that when the head teacher informed them about the project, they realised it would be helpful to the school and also help the pupils learn some farming techniques and skills, hence their support for the project.
In an interview, the Pupils said the project has equipped them with the requisite skills and techniques in farming.