Federal Government Begins ‘Grow What You Eat’ Farming Project in Schools

The Federal Government has launched a farming programme called ‘Grow What You Eat’ in some secondary schools across the country.

The idea is to teach students how to plant and grow their food, combat hunger, and acquire simple farming skills that they can apply in real life. The project was launched on Thursday in Abuja at the Government Girls Secondary School, Dutse. The event marked the start of the initiative for the North Central region.

Speaking at the flag-off, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’idu Ahmad, stated that the programme aims to revive school farming and teach students self-reliance and responsibility through agriculture. Mr. Kehinde Olu Osinaike, a Deputy Director in the Ministry, represented her. “The farm is your classroom, and the seed is your lesson,” she told the students. “What you plant today will feed your family, your community, and your future.”

The pilot phase will cover one senior secondary school in each of the 36 states and the FCT. These schools will run school farms and teach students agribusiness skills to reduce youth unemployment and promote food security. The Executive Secretary of the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC), Dr Iyela Ajayi, said the programme is not just a school project, but a national effort. He explained that school farms will become centres of learning, entrepreneurship, and community service.

NSSEC has trained state officers, provided startup grants, and created a monitoring plan to track progress. The programme supports Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda, food security plans, education standards, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Alhaji Mohammed Salihu from NSSEC stated that the initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to developing a school system that educates students not only from books but also through hands-on experiences that prepare them for real-life challenges.