Yaa Naa Supports School Farming Initiative, Lauds Mahama's Farmers' Day Efforts

The Overlord of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Abukari II, has urged schools in the Northern Region to prioritize farming, emphasizing its importance for food security and economic advancement.

Yaa Naa Abukari II believes that integrating farming into the school curriculum can provide students with nutritious meals, address feeding program challenges, and ultimately lessen the financial burden on government for food provisions.

The Dagbon Overlord issued this call when representatives from the Northern College of Science and Technology, winners of the 2025 National Junior High School Agricultural Award, paid a courtesy visit to the Gbewaa Palace.

He further encouraged traditional leaders across the Northern Region to allocate land to schools for agricultural purposes, significantly boosting food production and supporting the development of the sector.

Yaa Naa Abukari II expressed his gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama for acknowledging and rewarding schools demonstrating excellence in agriculture during the recent National Farmers’ Day celebrations.

He also commended the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, for his pragmatic approach to addressing Ghana’s agricultural concerns and for the successful organization of the Farmers’ Day event.

“The recognition given to these schools will undoubtedly motivate them to expand their agricultural initiatives and contribute even more effectively to the nation’s food supply,” Yaa Naa Abukari II stated.

He underscored that greater involvement of schools in farming would enhance food security not only in the Northern Region but throughout the country.

The Yaa Naa urged institutions to fully utilize available government agricultural programs, particularly the dedicated school farming initiative, to increase production and support national food security targets.

Ghana’s agricultural sector currently accounts for approximately 20 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. However, the nation imports over $500 million worth of rice, maize, and soybean annually, highlighting the critical need for increased domestic production.

This year’s 41st National Farmers’ Day celebration, held in the Volta Region, centered around the theme “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, Secure the Future,” featuring an agricultural fair and bringing together key stakeholders.

The Municipal Chief Executive for Yendi, Sugri Muniru, lauded the Northern College of Science and Technology’s achievement, describing the school as a pioneer in agricultural education.

“The institution has successfully challenged the misconception that farming is merely a form of punishment by seamlessly integrating it into its core curriculum,” Mr. Muniru explained.

He noted that the school’s ability to provide approximately 70 per cent of its students’ meals through its own agricultural production strongly aligns with the spirit of the Farmers’ Day theme.

He recalled President Mahama’s visit to the school in 2024 and praised his foresight in establishing awards specifically for junior high schools actively engaged in agriculture.

“Many districts would be proud to have an institution like this, but Yendi is fortunate to call Northern College of Science and Technology its own,” Mr. Sugri Muniru added.

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