FG Plans Agric Clubs For Schools

The Senior Special As
sistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Schools Agricultural Programme (SAP), Baraka Sani,  has revealed government’s plans to launch an agricultural programme in secondary schools in the country, with 1,440 students in the pilot phase.
Sani who gave the indication recently in Abuja said under the arrangement, two students’ agricultural clubs which would comprise 240 students would be formed in the six geopolitical zones of the federation.
According to her, the effort was geared towards the realisation of the federal governments Vision 20:20:20 Agricultural Transition Agenda (ATA).
She said his office had the mandate to implement a programme that would introduce young students in agricultural skills.
The scheme according to her would focus on food and vegetable production including small scale irrigation, fisheries and aqua-culture, poultry, honey production among others.
She said other objectives of the programme include the acquisition and development of practical skills and knowledge relevant to agric activities.
The special assistant said that development of positive attitude towards agriculture and equipping school leavers for job opportunities through practical teaching of skills would do the magic that the country is looking for.
The participants would be expected to develop interest in agro-based business enterprises in addition to playing a role in poverty reduction after school.