Chief of Staff Julius Debrah has urged schools across the country to shift perceptions of agriculture by ending the long-standing practice of using farming and weeding as disciplinary measures for students.
Speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama at the launch of the government’s School Farm Initiative, Mr. Debrah emphasized that agriculture should no longer be seen as a punishment but rather as a field of dignity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
He explained that the initiative seeks to transform schools into hubs of agricultural training and innovation, where young people can acquire practical skills and develop a mindset that farming is a profitable and modern venture.
The School Farm Initiative, a flagship under the Presidential Initiative on Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA), is being implemented in partnership with the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and other stakeholders.
Its goal is not only to boost agricultural education but also to help reduce Ghana’s dependence on food imports and enhance food security.
Director of the PIAA, Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, added that the project would also support the government’s school feeding programme by reducing food costs, potentially saving the state between GHS 840 million and GHS 1.4 billion annually.
