Stigma associated with agriculture must be reversed

Sep 07, 2008 News

– Education Ministry officialThe need to change the stigma associated with agriculture must be reversed if the ‘Grow More’ campaign is to be further expanded.

This notion was emphasised by Permanent Secretary of the Education Ministry, Phulandar Khandai, when a school gardening competition was launched at the D’Urban Backlands Practical Instruction Centre on Friday last.

The event comes as part of the activities to observe Education Month and was officially launched by Khandai in the stead of Education Minister, Shaik Baksh, who was attending the Economic Partnership Agreement meeting at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal at the time.

In brief remarks to the gathering, which consisted of students, teachers and other education officials, the Permanent Secretary pointed out that over the years there has been historical stigma attached to agriculture.

“I know for a fact that agriculture in schools was associated with punishment…It takes away your time and you are placed to work in the hard rock soil to deal with the plants…We have to change that stigma. It is a challenge we have to overcome and turn into a positive.”

According to Khandai, historically persons were brought to Guyana for some purpose associated with agriculture but now citizens have drifted off into various professions outside of this field.

But it is important, according to the permanent secretary, that major focus is given to agriculture. He added that it is for this reason that the Education Minister had taken the time to be involved in the conference.

“We are seeking to have more justice at the global level in terms of our trade patterns and those that we have inherited since being a colony. A lot of our primary produces are underpriced and we facing growing rise in prices of fuel and other input that makes our daily production.”

Khandai pointed out that in order to transform the challenge that Guyana is faced with, efforts must be made to emerge out of the past and do more to make agriculture an opportunity for all.

It was against this background, he noted, that the school gardening competition was crystallised with a view of inculcating the practice at the level of school children – from the very early childhood stages, right up to post secondary.

Acting Chief Education Officer, Ms Genevieve Whyte-Nedd said that part of the gratification of gardening is seeing things grow and being able to share. She pointed out that while the process could be an adventure it could also prove to be a drama.

In this regard, she disclosed that it is expected that teachers of agricultural science will provide learners with up-to-date knowledge and skills and the appropriate attitude so that they will be equipped to extend these experiences to the home and be more confident practising gardeners and efficient managers of their own gardens.

A section of the gathering at the launch

“We are all aware that gardening demands time, attention and physical efforts, and we are also conscious of the fact that harvesting time reminds us that home-grown is always better than store-bought.”

As such, she expressed optimism that the competition will motivate students, schools and even the homes to resuscitate and maintain gardens.

The launch of the competition also saw the expert advice of Technical Manager of the Agriculture Ministry, Michael Welch, being extended to those who will be involved in the competition.

Welch pointed out to those in attendance that not only is agriculture a good means of feeding a population but it contributes significantly to the Gross Domestic Product.

The competition, which will see participation from schools in all ten administrative regions, is slated to commence in earnest on Friday (September 12).

It is anticipated that the activity will serve to re-emphasise the importance of Agriculture in schools and communities; sensitise the public on quality foods; increase production yield by use of innovative technologies and enhance the ‘Grow More Food’ initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture.