Why students should be exposed to agriculture at school
“So, we have engaged the campers in different technologies. One of them has been irrigation. We are trying to train campers or the students on how to efficiently use water resources to continue productivity, and we are trying to tell them that production on the farm should not only occur during the rainy season,” Muhinda added.
Rutaro shared his experience with students from over 10 schools from central Uganda, who converged at Gayaza High School for the 12th School Farm Camp on August 22, 2026, at the opening of the camp. (Credit: Prossy Nandudu)
For five days, students from 10 schools in central Uganda are getting their hands dirty at Gayaza High School, learning about farming, irrigation, poultry, dairy production and other agricultural ventures as part of the school's 12th Farm Camp.
The camp is designed to give students practical experience in agriculture and expose them to opportunities that go beyond the classroom, including climate-smart farming, mechanisation and value addition.
For Dr Hamid Rutaro, a director at URAS Africa, such early exposure can shape a person's career and outlook on agriculture. He first encountered farming as a primary school child after his grandmother rewarded his good performance in school with a goat.
“I was recruited into farming by my grandmother, who gifted me a goat as a reward for good performance in school. Learning how to look after this goat nurtured my interest in livestock farming, where the goat multiplied into a cow; from a cow, I learnt how to milk and sell milk, a venture that has since shaped my future.
From that introduction, I went ahead and studied veterinary medicine. Today, I am employed in agriculture but also earn from agriculture through dairy farming.
That is how agriculture will not only provide food, but it also creates jobs and generates incomes for households.
The five-day camp exposes students to practical farming ventures in dairy, poultry, climate-smart farming, irrigation systems, mechanisation, in addition to value addition to products like okra, coffee, milk, fruit, among others.
The camp is supported by NUCAFE, Engineering Solutions, Newmans, Sumz, Loko Poultry Farm, Movit products, among others.
The five-day camp exposes students to practical farming ventures in dairy, poultry, climate-smart farming, irrigation systems, mechanisation, in addition to value addition to products like okra, coffee, milk, fruit, among others. (Credit: Prossy Nandudu)
“As a veterinary doctor, I've realised that having this skill set in agriculture will not only give you a job, but you can turn it into a business. There are lots and lots of opportunities in agriculture, so I commend the school for continuing this annual school camp educating the children and skilling them in climate-smart agriculture,” Rutaro said.
He explained that most children, especially in urban areas, haven’t been exposed to farms to learn and know where the food comes from, adding that such children miss out on practical, hands-on skilling and training.
Commenting on the theme of the camp, which is skilling the youth in climate-smart agriculture and environmental sustainability.
He said that URUS will be introducing climate change-resilient dairy breeds that farmers can embrace. In addition to the new breeds, he said that farmers have already been trained on the different methods of improving productivity for dairy cows in a climate-smart farming way.
Patrick Mohinda, the farm manager at Gayaza High School, said that for the 12th time, the school has been organising farm camps attracting more than 600 students.
He, however, said that due to a ban on the movement of students from one part of the countryside to another, this year, the camp that ends on Wednesday, August 20, 2026, has attracted students from 10 schools from within central Uganda, bringing the number to 500.
“We have continued to organise this camp because we want to bridge the gap between practical learning and theoretical learning. As a country, we still have agriculture as the leading employer, and we still have agriculture as the backbone of our economy. So, it is important that we skill these students, these learners, in modern and hands-on farming practices,” Muhinda said.
Muhinda explained further that they chose skilling the youth in climate-smart agriculture and environmental sustainability as the theme to respond to recent changes in the climate that are affecting crop production.
“So, we have engaged the campers in different technologies. One of them has been irrigation. We are trying to train campers or the students on how to efficiently use the water resource to continue productivity, and we are trying to tell them that production on the farm should not only be during the rainy season,” Muhinda added.