Ketu South: The St. Paul's Senior High School and Minor Seminary (SPACO) is set to provide sustenance to its students and potentially others in the Ketu South Municipality using produce from its own farm. The school has cultivated cassava and vegetables, such as chilli pepper, on an acre and a half of land under the Governance Africa Foundation's (GAfF) Schools and Homes Agriculture Revival Programme (SHARP) initiative.
According to Ghana News Agency, the SHARP initiative, currently piloted at SPACO, was designed to engage students in agriculture by integrating it into the educational curriculum and extracurricular activities. The program aims to instill values of responsibility, entrepreneurship, and environmental consciousness in students through civic clubs established by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in schools.
At the official ceremony, SPACO Headmaster Mr. Emmanuel Hope Kwodwo Dogodzi expressed gratitude to GAfF for collaborating with organizations like Interplast Ghana Limited to bolster the initiative, which began at the school two years ago. He explained that the program had enabled the school to produce cassava dough and bags of 'gari' from its plantation, part of which is used to feed students, with the remainder sold to generate revenue for the school.
Mr. Dogodzi highlighted challenges with water for year-round farming but commended the collaboration with a pipe manufacturing company that provided irrigation solutions. He expressed optimism that with additional support and technical assistance, the farmland could be expanded to improve yields, potentially feeding students and others in the municipality.
Mr. Kafui Agbe, Ketu South Municipal Director of Agriculture, committed to providing technical expertise to ensure the program's success. He encouraged the initiative's expansion, stating, 'Through SHARP, let's be sharp and feed our sister schools in the municipality.'
Ms. Doreen Baaba Asante from Interplast Ghana expressed excitement about joining the SHARP initiative to train young individuals in irrigation farming, emphasizing the importance of local food production given Ghana's favorable climate.
Mama Hodzige II, Municipal Director, NCCE, urged students to take the program seriously, emphasizing agriculture's critical role in any economy and society.
Mr. George Odamtten, Founder of GAfF, noted plans to extend SHARP to other regions and establish model farms as practical learning centers for modern agricultural practices, enhancing youth entrepreneurial capabilities.
Student Master Prince Dugah shared his positive experience with SHARP, hopeful of its impact on his future. The event concluded with certificate presentations, the launch of pocket-sized constitution books, and a visit to the school farm.
