Schools embrace hands-on learning at Harvest Money Expo

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The Harvest Money Expo that took place at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, was not only meant for adults, but also for young people and students from across the country.

The future agriculturists were eager to showcase the different projects they have learnt at school, as well as learn from other exhibitors.

Shana Ngabo, a Senior Three student from Gayaza High School, revealed that they came to exhibit projects such as yoghurt making and vegetable growing. On the other hand, Faith Okello, also a student at the school, said they attended as an agriculture class to learn more from the expo.

“We have learnt different methods of farming, such as drafting and how to grow fruits,” Okello said.

In addition, some schools participated in the expo to add to their knowledge of the projects they carry out at school.

“We have seen the different methods of vegetative propagation we can use at home and at school,” said Michelle Kalungi, a Senior Four student from Emma High School, Kikaya.

“I have seen how yoghurt is made and the various equipment that showcases how agriculture is practised.”

Abigaba Gideon, an agriculture teacher at Emma High School, revealed that bringing students to the expo reinforces what they are already doing in their agricultural projects, such as rabbit rearing.

“When these rabbits produce waste, we use it in our gardens,” he said.

“We mix it with the soil and then put it in sacks where we plant vegetables. We also use urine as fertiliser and apply it to the leaves.”

This acts as a natural pesticide and works well for organic farmers. Abigaba appealed to schools to attend the expo over the remaining days, Saturday and Sunday, noting that it helps bring the new curriculum to life for students.

The Harvest Money Expo is like the magic trick of pulling a rabbit out of a hat - you never know what lies beyond until you visit the stalls and engage with exhibitors. At the Emma High School stall, for example, students were demonstrating the proper care of rabbits.

“We feed them on a balanced diet of pellets, greens (kale, carrot and cabbage) and hay,” said Charles Kigozi, a Senior Three student.

While carrying a rabbit, Kigozi listed the breeds they rear as Chinchilla, New Zealand White, Flemish Giant and Rex. Asked how they obtain hay, Emmanuela Modo and Michelle Karungi, also Senior Three students, said they make it at school.

“We make our own hay by wilting grass. We dry it in a shed so that it does not become too dry because we only want it to wilt,” they said. Happy to be at the expo, Modo shared her expectations: “We expect to learn from our neighbours,” she said, referring to other exhibitors.

Her friend, Katrina Nandutu, also a Senior Three student, said she had just learnt that Ugandans eat snails after visiting the Bombo Army Secondary School stall that was displaying them.

The expo is a Vision Group venture, sponsored by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, ENGSOL, Tunga Nutrition, aBi, Pearl Bank and the Uganda Development Corporation. Other sponsors include Heifer International, Roke Telecom, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, and the Uganda Revenue Authority.

Under the theme Farming as a Business, the expo aims to help Ugandans reap from agriculture by learning from experts and agricultural dealers how to make farming a lucrative enterprise.