Mahama to introduce mandatory school farms under new national agriculture programme

President John Dramani Mahama says the government will soon roll out a national School Agriculture Programme that will require every secondary school and tertiary institution to operate a functional school farm.

This forms part of efforts to boost national food security and reduce dependence on imported produce.

Announcing the initiative during the 41st National Farmers’ Day celebration in Ho on Friday, the President said the programme is designed to place young people at the centre of Ghana’s agricultural transformation.

He added that a National School Agriculture Coordinator has already been appointed to lead implementation across the country.

“Our plan is straightforward,” he said. “I will soon launch a school agriculture program. We are asking all secondary schools and tertiary education institutions to have a school farm where they can produce their own chicken, they can produce their own livestock, goats, small ruminants, goats, sheep and big ruminants like cattle.”

He added that schools will no longer rely heavily on market purchases.

“They must also produce their own vegetables, their tomatoes, their peppers, their okra and all the other vegetables that they eat,” he said. “We have appointed a national school agriculture coordinator and soon we shall launch that program. And I believe it will also contribute to Ghana’s food security.”

The President emphasised that introducing young people to food production through practical experience will cultivate agricultural interest, support local supply chains, and reduce the national food import bill.

He encouraged schools to integrate the programme into both learning and daily operations.

President Mahama also outlined additional interventions to revitalise the sector, including expanded irrigation using solar pumps, accessible credit for farmers, and mandatory local procurement for the school feeding programme, particularly for rice, maize and poultry. He said these measures aim to ensure that domestic farmers benefit directly from government-led demand.

He encouraged Ghanaians, including professionals, to view farming as a viable supplementary income source. According to him, agriculture remains a profitable venture.

He revealed that he personally farms and urged citizens and public officials to acquire land for crops such as oil palm.

“It is one of the surest ways to boost incomes while supporting national production,” he said.

The President also applauded the United States government for removing tariffs on a range of Ghanaian agricultural exports, including cocoa, avocado, oranges, pepper, onions and yams, creating a zero-tariff pathway for Ghanaian produce entering the US market.

With current agricultural exports to the US estimated at about $100 million, he urged farmers to scale up production and take advantage of the expanded opportunities.

President Mahama said the combination of school-based farming, improved financing and expanded export access represents a strategic pathway to strengthen Ghana’s food systems while empowering the next generation of agricultural leaders.