The Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Senator Stephen Adi Odey, has distributed improved variety seedlings and herbicides worth millions of naira to principals of schools and agricultural science teachers of 135 schools in the State.
The improved variety seedlings distributed include maize, pumpkin, cassava, melon, among others.
The gesture is aimed at reviving the teaching of practical agriculture to enable schools to contribute their quota in supporting the state governor to win the fight against food insecurity.
Distributing the seedlings and herbicides on Wednesday to the 135 schools across the three educational zones in the state, at the NYSC Model Secondary School Calabar, the Commissioner for Education, Senator Stephen Odey, stated that the seedlings would help the schools revive practical agriculture that is dead in schools.
The Commissioner, who was represented by the Chairman, Committee of Young Farmers Club in the Cross River State Ministry of Education, Comrade Asuquo Amaku, stated that with the farm inputs, school authorities can re-introduce teaching of practical agriculture in schools to enable them contribute their quota and boost food production.
“What we are doing here is a follow up of what happened during last year farming season.
“As we went on inspection, we discovered that there were rotten crops and so much overgrown grasses in their farms, we decided to support the schools with herbicides and improved variety seedlings,” he stated.
Odey also noted that the distribution of seedlings to schools is another way to complement the efforts of the state governor who is so determined to intensify the fight against hunger and starvation.
“This is why we are giving the seedlings to agricultural teachers and school principals so that they can use the inputs to teach students on how to practicalise agriculture for increased food production,” the commissioner said.
Also speaking, the Principal of NYSC Model Secondary School who is also the state chairman of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Comrade Etim Nsa, stated that the seedlings would help in the revival of practical agriculture which is a forgotten issue among school proprietors and managers.
“What we are trying to achieve is food security for all. We charged agric teachers and principals of schools to plant the seedlings on time so that they generate quality seedlings for next year.
“What we are doing here is a follow up of what happened during last year’s farming season.
“As we went on inspection, we discovered that there were rotten crops and overgrown grasses in their farms; so we decided to support the schools with herbicides and improved variety seedlings,” Nsa maintained.
He further stated that the seedlings to schools is another way to complement the efforts of Governor Bassey Otu in the fight against hunger and starvation.
