The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) in the Upper East Region is of the opinion that the idea of school farms could work but it would not fully solve address the food shortages within the senior high schools.
Richard Akumbasi, the Upper East Regional Chairman of CHASS, speaking on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East Show explained the costs that come with large-scale farming cannot be borne by the schools.
“I built a fish pond. I was running two ponds. I used to do fish and use it for feeding of the students. We used to have school farms, even now, we still have school farms. We have cultivated some cowpeas and not on a large scale. My fish pond, I still haven’t stocked it because I do not have the resources.”
“If you want to do large-scale farming, the price of fertilizer is about Ghc400. I do not know where any headmaster can get the money to buy those things and embark on a large farm. These days, if you farm without fertilizers, there is no way you can get anything.”
With the needed funds, the school would be able to cultivate large areas of food to feed the students.
Read Also: SHSs in Upper East running out of food after emergency supplies about 3 weeks ago – CHASS
“The inputs are a big challenge. Some time ago, there were plans to support schools with inputs. If the funding is there, the schools would be able to manage but if the funding is not available, the schools cannot farm.”
“A lot of us are willing. I have a functioning garden. We grow vegetables and things but that’s just minimal,” he said.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
