The Kosmos Innovation Center
(KIC), in partnership with Interplast Ghana Ltd, has organised a virtual
training for teachers participating in the KIC School Farm Competition,
equipping them with practical knowledge on the use and management of the
Ingreen irrigation kit for their school farms.
The training forms part of KIC’s
efforts to strengthen the capacity of teachers to guide students in applying
modern and sustainable agricultural practices. With more than 500 schools
across Ghana participating in this year’s School Farm Competition, the
initiative provides an important platform for introducing young people to
practical agriculture, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Strengthening Teachers’
Irrigation Knowledge
The virtual session introduced
teachers to irrigation farming and demonstrated how drip irrigation can support
efficient water use and improved crop production.
Facilitators from KIC and
Interplast covered key topics including Introduction to Irrigation Farming;
Drip Irrigation and Ingreen Kit Overview; Understanding Ingreen Kit Components;
Demonstration; Site Preparation; Operating a Drip Irrigation System;
Maintenance; Fertigation; and Best Practices.
Through guided presentations and
demonstrations, teachers were taken through the different components of the
Ingreen kit and how the system can be installed and operated on their school
farms. The session also addressed site preparation, routine maintenance and the
use of fertigation to efficiently deliver nutrients to crops through
irrigation.
The virtual format enabled
teachers from participating schools across different parts of the country to
access the training supporting KIC’s efforts to reach a wider network of
educators participating in the competition.
Bringing Modern Agriculture
into the Classroom
The School Farm Competition is
designed to go beyond conventional classroom learning by giving students
opportunities to experience agriculture practically and explore its
potential as a pathway for innovation and entrepreneurship.
The introduction of drip
irrigation and other modern agricultural practices provides students with an
opportunity to understand how technology can help address challenges such as
water scarcity, inefficient resource use and changing weather patterns.
Teachers are central to this
process. As mentors and facilitators, they help students translate lessons into
practical experience—cultivating crops, managing farm resources, observing
results and solving challenges along the way.
By strengthening teachers’
understanding of irrigation technology, the training with Interplast gives
educators an additional tool to help students appreciate the role of technology
and innovation in modern agriculture.
Reaching More Than 500 Schools
This year, more than 500
schools across Ghana are participating in the KIC School Farm Competition,
creating a significant opportunity to expose thousands of young people to
practical agricultural knowledge and skills.
The programme encourages students
to develop competencies in farming, teamwork, problem-solving, leadership and
entrepreneurship. Their school farms become practical learning environments
where students can see how agricultural production connects with technology,
business and food systems.
The irrigation training
complements this experience by demonstrating that agriculture can be technology-driven,
efficient and innovative, while encouraging students to think beyond
traditional approaches to farming.
Investing in the Future of
African Agriculture
The School Farm Competition is
part of KIC’s broader commitment to inspiring a new generation to see
agriculture differently—as a sector with the potential to create jobs, drive
innovation, strengthen food systems and contribute to economic development.
By equipping teachers with
practical knowledge of modern irrigation systems and creating opportunities for
students to engage with agricultural technology, KIC and its partners are
helping to build the knowledge and mindset needed for a more productive and
sustainable agricultural sector.
As Africa seeks to transform its
food systems, improve agricultural productivity and create meaningful economic
opportunities for its growing youth population, connecting education,
technology and agriculture is critical.
Through the School Farm Competition, KIC is helping to establish that connection early, empowering young people to see themselves not only as future farmers, but also as innovators, entrepreneurs and problem-solvers capable of contributing to the transformation of agriculture in Ghana and across Africa.