Food and Agriculture Minister Calls for School Farms to Boost Student Interest in Agriculture
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Eric Opoku, has urged educational institutions across Ghana to establish school farms to provide food for students and inspire them to see agriculture as a viable career.
Speaking at the Food, Agriculture, Technology, and Sustainability Conference in Ho held under the theme “Rethinking the Future of Food and its Allied Systems in an Era of Sustainability and Circularity” Mr. Opoku said schools from the basic to tertiary levels should adopt the initiative to expose learners early to the value of agriculture.
He announced that MoFA will begin recognising schools that run successful farm projects during the 2025 National Farmers’ Day celebration scheduled for December 5 in Ho.
The Minister noted that several prominent Ghanaians, including President John Dramani Mahama, the Asantehene, and some Members of Parliament, are actively engaged in farming, demonstrating its potential for wealth creation. He added that outdated perceptions of agriculture—often influenced by negative school experiences like punitive weeding must be corrected.
“Agriculture remains one of the richest professions globally, and our youth must embrace it to reduce unemployment,” he said.
Supporting the Minister’s call, international researcher Prof. Eric Danquah highlighted the need to strengthen agricultural research and ensure findings reach farmers through extension officers.
Prof. Ibok N. Oduro of KNUST also stressed the importance of promoting traditional local food varieties to improve nutrition and public health.
