School kids to get hands on training on cultivation

MAPUSAr rThrough the novel initiative, the department attempts to reach out to students and along with the teaching staff train them in the art of gardening. r“It’s a small step to create awareness among the student community about gardening. It’s also an attempt to get their hands dirty and give them hands on training in cultivation,” said Anant Hoble, Zonal Agriculture Officer, Bardez. rHe said the programme will also help children get accustomed to physical work outdoors rather than getting hooked to computers and mobile phones. rThe department of agriculture has approached a few educational institutions in the State where the initiative will be put to test for the first time this year. rIn Bardez, the department has identified eight schools -- St Francis Xavier High School, Siolim, Holy Cross High School, Siolim, St Michael High School, Vagator, St Xavier HSS, Mapsua, St Anthony School, Mapusa, Seminary of Our Lady High School, Saligao, Mae De Deus High School, Corjuem and SFS Minor Seminary, Bastora. rThe department officers will distribute farming kits among students and teachers and train them in the art of gardening. rThe kit will contain gardening equipment, seeds, organic fertilizers, bio-pesticides, etc, and will be distributed free of cost to the schools. r“The cultivation activity will either be conducted in the school campus wherever space is available or else the concerned schools can approach farmers who have open space near the schools which can be used for training,” the ZAO said. rThe schools may use the initiative as an extra-curricular activity and accordingly decide on grading their students. “Government wants to promote farming among the student community and since we have our own farms we expressed our interest in the initiative,” said Fr Jose Fernandes, Rector of SFS Minor Seminary in Bastora. rHe, however, said the modalities of how to go about with the training was yet to be worked out and will be decided once the agriculture department kick starts its programme. r“We are trying this for the first time. If the programme clicks, we may expand the scope of the initiative in the next year,” Hoble said.