Gov’t to Invest 1.5 Billion in Teaching Agriculture in Schools

The Cameroon Government has made known plans to introduce agriculture in nursery, primary and secondary schools in Cameroon. A three year project for the integration of this subject into the academic curricula was launched recently in the Center Region.

**Agriculture, soon to be a subject in nursery, primary and secondary schools**

This novelty is aimed at raising the interest of youths in the agricultural sector in Cameroon. The project, to be piloted and co-financed by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Secondary and Basic Education, will cost 1.5 Billion.

Speaking to the state media while launching the project, the Minister of Basic Education, Professor Nalova Lyonga gave insight on the integration of this new subject; agriculture.

“We are going to develop curricular that will be taught in schools at different levels just like any other subject. Children should make it part of them; they should not learn agriculture as an accident that is when their mothers are going to the farm,” she expounded.

Agriculture is Cameroon’s backbone contributing over 25% to the country’s GDP and employing over 70% of the country’s workforce. Despite this, the sector has for some time now been left at the mercy of aging farmers. It is therefore hoped that with the integration of agriculture in nursery, primary and secondary schools in Cameroon, more and more youths will develop interest in the sector in the nearest future. If well implemented, the innovation will equally be instrumental in fighting food insecurity and ensuring economic resilience in Cameroon.