Northern College of Science and Technology in Yendi has been crowned National Best Junior High School in Practical Agriculture at the 41st National Farmers' Day celebration held on Friday, December 5, at the Ho Sports Stadium, capping 13 years of dedication to agriculture-driven education.

The prestigious achievement earned the school an impressive array of prizes, including a brand-new 12-unit classroom block completed by GETFund, a minibus donated by Best Agro, a tricycle, a thresher, sprayers from K. Bedu, agrochemicals, five pieces of cutlasses, Wellington boots, and assorted chemicals.

A Model of Agricultural Integration

Founder Nathaniel Adams told our Joy News team that the school has successfully integrated agriculture into its daily learning and food production systems, creating a self-sustaining educational environment that has become a national model.

"Our students grow about 70 percent of their own food," Mr Adams explained. "We cultivate grains, rice, beans, and vegetables, while managing extensive poultry operations, including quails. Each student enjoys an egg a day from our birds."

The school's comprehensive agricultural program extends beyond crop cultivation to include fish ponds stocked with tilapia and catfish, as well as livestock operations featuring goats, sheep, and cattle. This diversified approach not only subsidises education costs but also builds strong science and agricultural skills among students.

Agricultural Excellence Award

The school was honoured with the Agricultural Excellence Award in recognition of its outstanding commitment to promoting agricultural education in the Northern Region.

The citation praised the institution for "cultivating a thriving school farm with rice, maize, beans, fish, poultry, and livestock and sustainable practices, which has earned national honours, inspiring a new generation of leaders and fostering a culture of sustainability through innovative school farm initiatives."

As part of the celebrations, the school held an impressive exhibition showcasing its farm produce, demonstrating the practical results of its agricultural education model. The display featured the various crops, evidence of livestock management, and products from the poultry and aquaculture operations.

Presidential Endorsement and National Policy Announcement

The achievement gained additional significance when President John Dramani Mahama, in his address at the ceremony, announced a landmark policy requiring all secondary schools and tertiary institutions across Ghana to establish school farms.

This presidential directive positions Northern College of Science and Technology as a pioneering example of what can be achieved through dedicated agricultural education, and the school is expected to serve as a reference point for institutions implementing the new policy.

Thirteen Years of Dedication

Mr Adams emphasised that the award reflects more than a decade of commitment to agriculture-driven learning and discipline.

"This achievement is the result of 13 years of consistent dedication to integrating practical agriculture with academic excellence," he said. "We've proven that schools can produce their own food while training students in valuable agricultural and scientific skills."

The school's model addresses multiple challenges simultaneously: reducing operational costs through food production, providing practical skills training, ensuring nutritional security for students, and fostering entrepreneurial thinking through exposure to agricultural enterprise.

The recognition at the 41st National Farmers' Day celebration marks a significant milestone not only for Northern College of Science and Technology but also for agricultural education in Ghana, as the nation moves toward making school farming a standard component of the educational system.