We must teach our children agriculture

A recent conversation between my 11-year-old daughter and her friends about fruits, vegetables and tuber crops brought to fore, lapses in children’s knowledge of agriculture. It is as bad as some children not being able to readily say how tomatoes, yam or other every day foods are grown, or not knowing that milk could be obtained from cows. It also brings to my remembrance a question a lecturer once asked in my first year in the university; for us to name five differences between a sheep and a goat. I tell you, yours truly, bred in Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos State, couldn’t name them.

This and more are the reasons why I think it is extremely important we teach our children about agriculture. Children make impressions and judgments about food and sundry issues from a very early age, so to leave addressing them until secondary or tertiary school age is way too late. As we celebrate the children’s day on May 27, 2023; what better time to talk about agriculture! More worrisome is the fact that in recent times, many children living in the urban or suburban areas of the country are not exposed to the world of agriculture. Coupled with the insufficient outdoor play spaces on the grounds of many nursery, primary, and secondary schools in urban settings, one can only wonder how much more challenging it would be to secure farmland for such purposes.

Although markets, food stalls and grocery stores are great ways for farmers to share their products with the world, we are doing the next generation a disservice if we do not pass down adequate information. How then can we do this? In today’s world of information technology, children have a lot at their fingertips and can truly make a difference in the world. Agriculture today is much more than the nursery rhyme “Old McDonald had a farm”, which tells of an old man in overalls, with a shovel, a duck, a cow, and a wheel barrow. This is why children need early exposure and education, to be able to make informed decisions about what they want to do with their lives.

Though agriculture is a great and rewarding career, it remains steadily on the decline. It behooves us to share best practices, encourage innovation, and drive real improvements in how our children connect with their food, how it is produced, how it gets to them, and how best to be eaten. From about three years of age, children can begin to learn about where their food comes from, and the effect it has on the body. Pre-schoolers can be taught and gifted the power to grow their own on a smaller scale. Giving them the knowledge and tools to contribute to their families at such a young age no matter how small, is something of a huge achievement to them. Whether it is, planting a bean by the window sill, reading and colouring books, or playing games identifying different fruits and vegetables, children can learn to, not only appreciate their food, but also the hard work that goes into bringing it to their tables.

Primary and secondary schools could organise farm-to-school programmes ranging from farm tours, community outreach programmes, classroom presentations to farmers markets, introducing local produce into schools, teaching students about nutrition in a fun, experimental and educative way to make a lasting impact on their minds. This helps them see firsthand what goes on behind the scenes, understand that food does not appear magically on the grocery store or market shelves, and appreciate the importance of protecting our farms (and our environment too). There is nothing like a good old-fashioned educational farm visits to animal farms, crop plantations, food processing plants etc.

Visits could be tailored to different school age children or to a variety of care farming clients. Preparing for risk assessments and practical lessons such as hygiene, good conduct, managing students, and working with teachers should be put into consideration. Generally, farm-to-school programmes can also include: incorporating local farm produce into school meals, offering local produce during snack time, growing school gardens, taking field trips to commercial farms or community gardens, and inviting farmers or chefs into the classroom. As students learn where their food comes from and get exposed to a variety of fresh produce, they discover that healthy food can be tasty and satisfying.

Studies have shown that students, who engage in such activities tend to eat more fruits and vegetables both at school and at home, be more physically active, make healthier food choices, and ultimately perform better academically. In addition, an array of people benefit from farm-to-school initiatives, including farmers, whose businesses grow when schools source from local producers, parents, who worry about their children’s eating habits, and of course, the children themselves. Teachers can go one step further and talk to students about the nutritional value of food, and various ways they can integrate different foods into their diets. They can even create games and give prizes as rewards when kids try out different foods.

Such benefits of good nutrition include keeping healthy, supporting muscles and brain development, strengthening bones, and boosting immunity. As parents, we could involve our children in the shopping process at the grocery stalls or market, by preparing grocery lists together, and having them help you locate items. They could also be encouraged to try free samples and meet farmers and sellers too. Children can also be involved in the storage and cooking of food items at home, promoting consumption of local foods, taste-testing events, cooking lessons, and food menus. One must be ready to explain to them in an age-appropriate way that different foods they see provide different nutrients to keep their bodies healthy, and answer the most awkward of questions.

This can help children improve their social awareness and responsible decision making. Despite the government’s pronouncement to diversify the economy from oil to agriculture, agriculture is still an elective subject in schools. Ministries of education, health, agriculture and rural development, and other stakeholders, need to look at putting agriculture in its rightful place. Agriculture is relevant to every aspect of the curriculum, and policies need to be put in place to give schools the flexibility to revise their programmes as new opportunities and insights arise.

In all, teaching a child about agriculture helps him/her learn concepts that can be used throughout their lives, viz: planting something as small as a seed, and getting a tall, beautiful tree sometime after; by dedication, hard work and perseverance produce results; protecting the environment is everyone’s duty; not neglecting our resources and communities; following one’s passion; knowing that the journey from seed to crop requires time and effort all the way; caring about agriculture also means caring enough about the next generation; and accepting that teamwork is very important.

It is noteworthy that children are very inquisitive, love to learn and do new things, and they love to share the information with their friends and colleagues at school, places of worship, and other places of interaction. Children also like being in charge, so when given the opportunity to take charge, you have them hooked. The Yorubas would say “omo l’ere aye” meaning children are the profit of the world; “omo ni ewa aye”, meaning children are the beauty of the world; “omo ni iyi”, meaning children are honour. As you celebrate and learn, it is Happy Children’s Day in advance from me to you!

Dr. Adenubi, an Associate Professor and Veterinarian, is a columnist with FarmingFarmersFarms; +2348025409691; bukiadenubi@gmail.com