Years of sustained effort in both the classroom and on the farm paid off in a grand style when the Northern College of Science and Technology (COSTECH) in Yendi in the Northern Region was crowned the National Best Junior High School in Practical Agriculture at this year’s National Farmers’ Day celebration.
The award was presented to the school at the 41st National Farmers’ Day celebration held in Ho last Friday, for its outstanding contribution towards promoting agriculture in schools and nurturing the next generation of agriculturists.
For its prize, the school received a new mini-van, a 12-unit classroom block constructed by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), a tricycle, a thresher, knapsack sprayers, assorted agrochemicals, five cutlasses and Wellington boots.
Similarly, the school was presented with a citation at the Northern Regional Farmers’ Day celebration at Kulkpeni in the Yendi Municipality for its continuous dedication and commitment to imbuing in the students the spirit of agriculture.
Formally known as 7As, COSTECH was adjudged the Best Educational Institution in Agriculture in the Yendi Municipality at the 39th Farmers’ Day celebration.
The school, which is known for its academic excellence, is into agricultural activities, including the cultivation of maize, soyabeans, cabbage, carrots, as well as the rearing of guinea fowls, chicken, sheep, cattle, goats and turkeys. It is also into tilapia and catfish farming.
Aside from introducing the students to agriculture, the farm produce is used to feed the students in order to lessen the financial burden on their parents.
Last year, the school caught the attention of President John Dramani Mahama, who visited the farms to learn about its activities as part of his tour of the Northern Region. He had pledged support for the expansion of school-based farming across the country.
Rationale
In his remarks, the founder of the school, Nathaniel Adams, thanked the government for the recognition and said the prize received would help the school to scale up its activities.
He indicated that the school had been engaging in farming activities to help feed the students and also reduce the operational cost in the running of the institution since its inception in 2013.
Aside from that, the idea was also to expose the students to agriculture, to whip up their interest in agriculture.
Given the poverty situation in the area, Mr Adams said most of the students were unable to pay their tuition and feeding fees, for which reason they adopted the initiative to help feed them free of charge.
He pointed out that the students actively participate in every stage of the farming process, including land preparation, planting, harvesting, feeding livestock and maintaining fish ponds, giving them hands-on experience in modern agricultural practices.
Commendation
For his part, the Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John, described the school as a pacesetter in exposing students to agricultural activities in the region.
He congratulated them on championing agriculture practices in the region and admonished other schools to emulate their example.
Writer’s email: mohammed.fugu@graphic.com.gh
