We need to rebrand Agriculture – Agronomist to Gov’t
“Let’s look at agricultural education. If you go to our agricultural faculties and colleges and observe the infrastructure there, it is a sorry sight. We are prepared to invest in equipment for pharmacy and engineering. Now, we want to focus on STEM education in high schools. But agriculture is missing. I would have wished that STEM would not only encompass the arts but also include agriculture,”
Associate Professor of Soil Fertility at the University of Cape Coast Prof. Kwame Agyei Frimpong, has charged the government to rebrand the agricultural sector to make it lucrative for people to venture into it.
According to him, the government should view agriculture as a business because the sector generates a lot of income for the nation and will continue to if value is been added to some of the products.
Prof. Frimpong lamented that the government has channelled all means and needs toward developing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)education to equip students to become innovators and leaders in the industries of tomorrow but there is not much attention on agricultural education.
“Let’s look at agricultural education. If you go to our agricultural faculties and colleges and observe the infrastructure there, it is a sorry sight. We are prepared to invest in equipment for pharmacy and engineering. Now, we want to focus on STEM education in high schools. But agriculture is missing. I would have wished that STEM would not only encompass the arts but also include agriculture,” Prof said.
He made this remark during a public lecture organized by the Alumni of Swedru Senior High School dubbed Swedru Conversation on the theme, feeding ourselves as a nation; Perspective on revolutionizing our agricultural fortunes on February 12, 2024, at the Asante Hall of Alisa Hotel, North Ridge in Accra.
Prof. Kwame Agyei Frimpong urged the government to restructure the educational curriculum in engineering to suit agriculture.
