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Mr. Alistair Djimatey, P.R.O. for Blue Skies has opined that the excitement about Agriculture in this country is dwindling at a high speed and that, Blue Skies School Farm Competition is here to support the development of Agriculture in Ghana and also develop the young’s interest in Agric.
In an interview with Radio1 News, he said it is based on this revelation that the Foundation has established a Project called Blue Skies School Farm Project Competition. The competition is with the aim of reigniting in the Youth the need to see the opportunities in Agriculture since the majority of the youth of today have lost interest in agriculture because they don’t see it as attractive and exciting venture.
According to Mr Djimatey, the School Farm Competition has been in existence for four (4) years. He said, it was piloted with 12 Schools in the Eastern Region and now have 60 schools across 5 regions in the country. 20 basic schools and 40 senior high Schools respectively.
When quizzed on the criteria for selecting the Schools, Mr Djimatey said the basic qualification of any interested School to participate in the competition is to have a farm land of 50 × 50, or 100 × 100 meters then an inspecting team will be sent to your school and upon their recommendation, Blue Skies Foundation will supply seeds, and other farm inputs for the school to participate in the competition.
He also revealed that there is a committee composed of representatives from Ghana Education Service, (GES), Ministry of Food & Agriculture, (MoFA), qualified agronomists and Blue Skies Product Ghana Limited to monitor the project as it progresses. They evaluate and assess each school. Schools with high points win and vice versa. The best 3 schools are fished out and awarded.
Krobo Girls are the defending Champions for 2017 competition with YIKROSEC and Methodist Girls placing second and third respectively.
Mr Djimatey said this year’s competition is so encouraging and exciting and was not ready to show any preference. This year’s award would be held in Koforidua on the 30th November, 2018.
However, he called for support from any organization ready to help ignite in the youth; the need to see the opportunities in Agriculture to show up, all in the interest of the future of the nation.
By: Radio1News|Ghana
