The Kwara State House of Assembly stressed on Tuesday the need for the incorporation of Agricultural Science into the school curriculum from primary to secondary school level.
Ganiyu Folabi Salau of Omupo constituency, who raised the motion on the floor of the house, argued that agricultural science should be made compulsory from primary to secondary school level
In leading the debate, Salau said agricultural education would strengthen pupils physically and mentally and help sustain the economy, promote informed decisions, and broaden career opportunities.
In a resolution on the motion, the House urged the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development and the Universal Basic Education Board to reinvigorate agricultural science in the academic curriculum of basic education in the state.
The House commended Governor Abdulrahaman Abdulrasaq for his visionary leadership in boosting Kwara State’s food security by providing tractors for grassroots farmers through local councils and sustaining the all-year farming agenda in line with the state’s agricultural transformation.
Meanwhile, the House of Assembly has also canvassed the need for the promotion of dry-season farming to enhance food security in the state.
Saba Yisa Gideon of Edu constituency moved the motion on the need to promote dry-season farming for enhanced food security in the state.
In leading the debate, he expressed concern that due to the lack of rainfall during this period, farmers depend heavily on irrigation systems to water their farms. He noted that while some crops thrive during dry seasons, most farmers do not take advantage of this but rather concentrate on rainy-season farming only.
He acknowledged that the Kwara state government had distributed fertiliser, chemicals, and inputs to cluster farmers across the 16 local government areas.
Saba also stated that the 16 local government councils in the state recently procured tractors purposely to assist the farmers at a subsidised rate to boost food production in the state.
He added that adequate emphasis needs to be accorded to the promotion of dry season farming to ensure adequate food production all year round as a panacea to the scarcity of food in the state and Nigeria as a whole.
The House urged Governor Abdulrazaq to direct the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to collaborate with the Ministry of Information to embark on awareness campaigns on the advantages of dry season farming and the suitable crops to plant therein.