As part of deliberate efforts to introduce pupils to practical farming at tender age and boost their interest in the agelong activity when they come of age, not less than 150 pupils from public primary schools across Ondo State recently embarked on excursion to the demonstration farms of the Federal University of Technology and Federal College of Agriculture, both in Akure.
The Chairman of Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Rt. Hon. Victor Olabimtan told the pupils and their teachers before they took off that the annual event was conceived by the Federal Government through the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC), in conjunction with Ondo SUBEB to expose the kids to the nitty gritty of farming in earlier in life in order to catch them young.
The Chairman, represented by the Director of School Services, Olusoji Okedusi said that there is a need for the pupils as leaders and farmers of tomorrow to know what farming entails and the processes food pass through before it gets to the table, and how their cloth and books are made.
He said that the annual programme executed under the Agricultural Education Training Programme (AETP) of UBEC/SUBEB provides a veritable opportunity for the pupils to learn so many things first hand from professional farmers and experts and ask questions. All these are geared towards boosting their interest in one of the oldest vocation in life, he further said.
According to the Chairman, the era has passed where people see agriculture, especially farming as a form of punishment as it is a means of livelihood and lucrative ventures that has the ability to employ as many people as possible.
He added that in order to diversify and grow Nigeria’s economy, emphasis must be moved away from over dependence on oil and gas, but to renewable resources like agriculture, which has the potential to make Nigeria great. This is one of the essences of AETP to expose all the stakeholders in the basic education sector especially pupils and their teachers the best practices in the profession, Olabimtan also said.
On lessons learnt, a Deputy Director, Mrs Comfort Monilari said the exercise was an eye opener to the pupils as they were taken through the rudiment of farming techniques, tools and equipment of modern farming
According to her, the learners were very happy with the exposure, and now realised that agricultural activities are not meant for the poor and uneducated in the society but a lucrative venture.
She commended the management of UBEC and Ondo SUBEB for approving the programme.
