Re-introduce agric studies – Experts urge gov’t

Agricultural scientists across the country are calling on the government to revive the interest of agriculture in the youth by incorporating the subject into the curriculum of basic, secondary and tertiary institutions like it used to be.

According to the scientists, such the re-introduction will make government’s flagship policies in agricultural, like the Planting for Food and Jobs and the One District One Factory very relevant to Ghanaians

The scientists, including former ministers of agriculture, met at the homecoming of students of agric at the University of Cape Coast.

The gathering of the agric experts was to help revive the interest of agric in Ghana and also offer critical suggestions and recommendations to government to boost the sector.

The three-day event, one of the steps towards the gathering of hearts and minds in agriculture to accelerate government’s numerous in agric, saw many young and old scientists of the discipline offering suggestions that could improve the sector.

Dean of the School of Agric at the University of Cape Coast, Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako, says a review of the curriculum in schools in Ghana to make the science a part of every single Ghanaian is key to accelerated development.

“We are thankful for the current government for the initiative in the agric sector. This is what we have always been asking for because as an agrarian nation, we need to make agriculture part of us.

“I am sure if government’s interventions continue like this, the interest of agric would be revived. We need to re-introduce agric at the basic, secondary and training colleges. This is the surest way of making government’s policies meaningful,” he explained.

Former deputy Minister of Agric, Alhaji Yakubu Alhassan, lauded government’s interest in reviving the sector.

He said the homecoming of all students of agriculture will serve as a powerhouse of knowledge to help support the government.

A crop scientist at the school of Agric at the University of Cape Coast, Frank Kwekucher Ackah, is convinced the time to take bold initiatives in supporting research in the by the government is now.

He believes government’s interest in the sector would turn the fortunes of the country around.

Source: Joynews