Ghana’s Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr. Eric Opoku, has unveiled a new nationwide initiative that will see farms established in every Senior High School (SHS) across the country.
The initiative is designed to promote practical agricultural education, improve food self-sufficiency in schools, and inspire the next generation of agripreneurs.
Speaking in Parliament, Mr. Opoku described the initiative as a key component of the government’s broader strategy to integrate agriculture into the educational system.
The goal, he said, is not only to ensure food security but also to shift young people’s perception of farming as a low-value activity to a viable and rewarding career path.
“This programme will allow students to take ownership of food production in their schools, it provides hands-on experience that will equip them with real-world agricultural skills and help reshape how they view farming,” Mr. Opoku said.
Under the initiative, schools will cultivate crops and rear livestock suited to their regional conditions. This will reduce their dependence on external food suppliers, improve the freshness and nutritional quality of student meals, and contribute to lowering operational costs.
The minister added that by involving students directly in the food production process, the initiative will instill discipline, a sense of responsibility, and a deeper appreciation for the role agriculture plays in national development.
“This is a sustainable solution to food insecurity in our schools, it supports our long-term vision of building a resilient agricultural sector driven by local participation and innovation,” he emphasized.
In recent years, several schools have reported food shortages and challenges in sourcing consistent, affordable ingredients for student meals, hence, the government believes the school farm model can help address them.
Beyond food production, the initiative is also intended to create a pipeline of skilled youth who can venture into agribusiness after school, either through employment in existing agricultural enterprises or by starting their own ventures.
The Agriculture Ministry is working in partnership with the Ministry of Education to ensure the necessary training, tools, and extension support are provided to schools.
The programme will be rolled out in phases, starting with selected pilot schools in each region. Over time, it will be expanded to cover all SHSs, with regional agricultural directorates providing technical oversight and support.
