GCAP Embarks On Agro Pilot Project

The saying that agriculture is the backbone of any nation is being practicalized by some institutions and organizations in the country by the introduction of pilot projects in schools.

The Kakata Rural Teachers Training Institute Demonstration School in Kakata City, Margibi County is the latest beneficiary of the program. The pilot phase of the project involves planting corn, eggplants, bitterballs, cabbage and pepper, among other crops.

The Director of Green Coast Agricultural Program Aloysius Tamba, said the organization initiated the exercise with the aim of training more Liberians in the agriculture sector so it’s collaborating with at least two schools –the KRTTI Demonstration School and the Lango Lippaye High School to achieve the objective. He said funds have been provided by partners in the USA after a survey revealed the need to have more agriculturalists in the country.

Tamba said the aim of the project is to impart agricultural knowledge in “grade school students” wherein some of them might decide to pursue it as a future career in other higher institutions like the Booker Washington Institute (BWI), University of Liberia or other institutions that offer agricultural program. He said the program is good for the country, especially young people who have an opportunity to engage in agriculture at an early age.

“We have had a great working relationship with the schools’ administrations and the students as well as non-governmental organizations and others to lend their support to the program to ensure greater success”, he added.

For her part, Getrude Smart, Principal of the KRTTI-Demonstration School has commended GCAP for the initiative and hoped that the project will be expanded and improved.

Principal Smart said, “Let’s take for example, when school opens where we have the school feeding program going on, if we have potato greens, pepper and other vegetables grown here, I don’t think we will have to go to the market to purchase those things.”