AGRIC SCIENCE STUDENTS TO GET PRACTICAL TRAINING (PAGE 11)

THE University of Ghana, Legon and the National Best Farmers and Fishermen Association are collaborating with other universities to train Agricultural Science students.
The collaboration will be in the form of attachment of Agricultural Students of the University of Ghana to identifiable members of the farmers and fishermen associations for practical training in their various fields to enable them to also appreciate the challenges and opportunities faced by the farmers.
The Provost of the College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ben Ahunu, announced the expansion programme at a reception organised by the Akuafo Hall of the University for award winning farmers.
He said the internship programme had become so successful during the two years that Finatrade Foundation had proposed an expansion to include other Agricultural students from the various universities.
Prof. Ahunu therefore appealed to the award winners to encourage more of their members to accept students for the internship programmes so that a great number of students could participate in them.
He explained that the award winners should consider instituting awards and scholarships for students of Agriculture and Oceanography.
Prof. Ahunu said no matter their value, the awards and scholarships could encourage the students to take up farming as a career.
He said the internship and challenges faced by the students in the field had translated into researchable issues, which ultimately would benefit the farmers in particular and the nation in general.
Prof. Ahunu congratulated the farmers on working hard over the years to produce to feed the nation at a time when the world food crisis was resulting in violent demonstrations in other parts of the continent.
The Akuafo Hall Tutor, Rev. Dr W. S. K. Gbewonyo, said the reception for farmers, which was the sixth to be held, was aimed at honouring farmers and fishermen for their contribution to education in particular since it was the seed money from farmers which made it possible to establish the University of Ghana in 1948.
Dr Gbewonyo said the Hall continued to celebrate the achievements of farmers in the country by dedicating the Hall fountain to farmers and fishermen.
He expressed the gratitude of Akuafo Hall to the farmers for their desire to provide a hostel facility for students.