KIC equips Teachers as 2026 School Farm Competition orientation begins

The Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC), in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education (MoE), has officially commenced the 2026 School Farm Competition with a nationwide virtual Training of Trainers (ToT) session for teachers and school coordinators.

The virtual training marks the first phase of this year’s competition, bringing together educators from participating schools across the country to effectively guide students throughout the competition with good agronomic practices. Through the Training of Trainers approach, teachers and coordinators will transfer practical knowledge, innovative farming methodologies, and best practices to their students, ensuring a consistent and impactful learning experience across participating schools.

The School Farm Competition is a flagship agricultural education initiative that promotes experiential learning by encouraging students to establish and manage productive school farms while developing entrepreneurial, leadership, and climate-smart agriculture skills. By equipping teachers with the necessary technical knowledge and facilitation skills, the programme lays a strong foundation for students to apply classroom concepts to real-life agricultural production and agribusiness. This year, more than 500 schools are participating in the competition. Crops include Tomato, Habanero, Sweet Pepper, Cabbage and Onion among other horticultural crops.

During the virtual sessions, participants received orientation on the competition guidelines, judging criteria, agronomic best practices, record-keeping, sustainability principles, safeguarding and effective mentorship techniques. The training also provided a platform for teachers to exchange ideas, ask questions, and prepare for the successful implementation of school farming activities within their respective schools.

Speaking at the opening session, KIC reaffirmed its commitment to empowering young people through agriculture by strengthening the role of educators as catalysts for innovation and practical learning.

“The success of the School Farm Competition begins with empowered teachers. By investing in their capacity, we are ensuring that students receive the right guidance, inspiration and practical skills needed to become the next generation of agripreneurs and agricultural leaders.”

Implemented by the Kosmos Innovation Center in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education, the School Farm Competition continues to inspire young people to view agriculture as a viable, innovative and rewarding career pathway. The programme provides students with opportunities to develop technical agricultural skills, teamwork, problem-solving abilities and an entrepreneurial mindset while contributing to food security within their schools and communities.

The School Farm Competition was originally established by the Blue Skies Foundation and has grown into one of Ghana’s leading school-based agricultural development programmes. Since KIC assumed implementation of the programme, it has continued to expand its reach and impact, empowering thousands of students and teachers across the country through practical agricultural education.

As participating schools begin implementing this year’s activities, KIC looks forward to another exciting season of innovation, learning and healthy competition, as students transform school farms into thriving centres of agricultural excellence.

The school farm competition over the years is also supported by agronomists from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, as well as Interplast Ghana Ltd, and Holland GreenTech with technical support on irrigation for some identified schools.