Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Olajide Basorun says no fewer than 360 students have benefited from the Agric-Yes Summer School Programme for Secondary School Students in Lagos.

He said in a statement signed by the Assistant Director, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Mr. Tunbosun Ogunbanwo that the ministry organised the programme to further boost students’ interest in agriculture.

“The Agric-Yes Summer School Programme was initiated to provide students with the technical skill that will be administered through on-farm practical teaching and field demonstrations.”

It stated that the14-day intensive training at the Agricultural Training Institute, Araga, Epe, Lagos, was the sixth in its series.

“As matter of deliberate policy, the Lagos State Government introduced the school agricultural programme more than 20 years ago.

“The purpose of the programme is to encourage students understand the business side of agriculture and not just as subsistence farming as many people perceive it.”

It said that agricultural programmes such as aquaculture, vegetable farming by using greenhouse technology and some form of agro-processing programmes had been introduced to schools over the years.

The statement said that the state government had also introduced the formation of Young Farmers Club in some public schools in the state.

The statement said the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Olabisi Ariyo, also appealed to the students to embrace agriculture as a profession in their early stages in life.

“The programme is designed to develop teachers’ technical skills through practical agricultural awareness and orientation needed in the education for a turn-around.” (NAN)

•Photo shows Gov. Ambode