SOROTI– Schools in Uganda have been asked to actively participate in agricultural practices as one of the ways of preparing the learners to engage in production after school.
The call was made at Soroti Secondary School by the assistant commissioner in charge of private schools who doubled as the first coordinator for National Agricultural Education Show in Uganda, Moses Muteekanga.
He was presenting a trophy to the school’s students after they emerged as one the best exhibitors in the school’s agricultural show held a few months ago in Jinja City.
According to Muteekanga, schools should put much emphasis on teaching agriculture since the sector is the backbone of Uganda’s economy, with the majority of the population depending on it for survival as farmers, businessmen, and employees.
“Uganda needs agricultural skills so that there is consistency in food production,” he said, urging those who have finished studies to stop wasting their time as they look for the scarce white color jobs but venture in agriculture, which he said provides self-employment.
Emmanuel Olaboro, the deputy of headteacher of the school applauded government for the initiative of the National Agricultural Education Show, saying they have introduced model farms after its students participated in the show.
Olaboro said the school has established small demonstration farms of matooke and eggplants to provide practical lessons for students but would in the near future establish more extensive gardens that can supplement the food bought for students and staff.
He said out of the school’s five students who participated in the show, two of them have formed clubs that are focusing on value addition.
“They process milk into yogurt which they then sell within the school. That is a good start for us,” Olaboro said.
He has encouraged more students to offer agriculture, saying it is the only vacation that can be practiced by all people regardless of their level of education and profession.
Collins Engoru, one of the school’s participants in the National Agricultural Education Show said they learned a lot and would put some of the ideas into practice as well as academics.
Among the schools that attended the agricultural show were Soroti SS, Teso College Aloet, Mbale SS, Busoga College, Mwiri, and many more.
Statistics show that 80 percent of Uganda’s land is arable but only 35 percent is being cultivated. In the financial year 2021/22, agriculture accounted for about 24.1 percent of the gross domestic product [GDP], and 33 percent of export earnings.
https://thecooperator.news/education-officer-urges-students-to-embrace-farming/
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