The Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has outlined an ambitious plan to rejuvenate agriculture in Ghana by mandating the establishment of farms in all secondary schools nationwide.He asserts that this visionary initiative will harness Ghana’s extensive land resources to bolster the agricultural sector.During his appearance before Parliament’s vetting committee on Monday, January 20, Mr.

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Opoku stressed the transformative potential of institutional farming, stating, “Every secondary school in this country will be required to cultivate a farm.”He further detailed plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Education to “recruit personnel who will assist schools in setting up and maintaining their farms, ensuring the initiative’s sustainability.

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”The Member of Parliament for Asunafo South Constituency in the Bono Region underscored the multifaceted benefits of the initiative. According to him, it will not only alleviate food shortages in schools but also enhance the nutritional quality and quantity of meals provided to students.“This strategy will significantly reduce the cost of school feeding while guaranteeing better and more wholesome meals for our students,” he remarked.

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Once a hallmark of Ghana’s educational system, school farms have dwindled since the late 2000s due to diminishing support from successive governments and other stakeholders. Mr. Opoku’s bold proposal seeks to reinvigorate this concept, positioning it as a critical pillar of agricultural revitalization and food security.

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“If nothing else, we can reduce the cost of school feeding and also enhance both the quality and quantity of the food provided to our students,” he said.

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