Grace High School, Gayaza - SPG 2022 project story

𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐒𝐏𝐆 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞!!! Our 10th success SPG 2022 story is from Grace High School, Gayaza in Wakiso district. Grace High is mixed day and boarding secondary school teaching agricultural education at ordinary level. In the SPG project, 65 students in senior one (7th grade) were involved and worked as one whole group planting and caring for maize (corn). According to Mr. Kabaali the teacher of agriculture and chapter advisor at Grace High, students participated in land preparation, planting, record keeping, weeding, harvesting, and selling of maize at school. He mentions that doing these activities helped learners attain farming skills and other valuable skills necessary for the world of work or for individuals to create their own agribusinesses. However, our yields were very low. Our crops at the flowering stage were hint by a long drought which was made worse by the army fall worm infestation. I had no solution for the drought but at least I managed to use some personal resources to purchase pesticides to kill the fall worms, Mr. Kabaali added. Upon harvesting, we changed plans due to a change in the visitation day schedule. Initially, parents on visitation day were the primary market for the harvested fresh maize since they buy at better prices, but we sold our harvest to the school which pays a little less. Fortunately, the school prepared the maize and served it at break time to students and staff. On that day, the entire Grace High community enjoyed our efforts and everyone was happy, Edward noted. I’m grateful that this project happened this year, our students have had an opportunity to learn by doing this is new here and in many other schools. Though students aren’t happy about the produce and income obtained, they had fast hand practical learning and experienced challenges that farmers endure every growing season. Today, students know how to help maize farmers to achieve better yields if their crops were affected by a drought or pests, Edward concluded. The Agricultural education program at Grace High School is one-teacher Agriculture education program and is advised by Mr. Kabaali Edward and assisted other school staff. We thank the school administration at Grace High for providing the extra required resources and for supporting this project. The School Gardening Program SPG 2022 is supported by Victoria Seeds (U) Limited Holistic eLearning Platform and Youth Future Farmers of Africa (YoFFA) Uganda. Good job, Grace High School!!!