The HOSA members tending the seedlings
JKUAT students from the Horticulture Students Association (HOSA) have set up a greenhouse farm for vegetable seedlings in order to enhance their capacity in farming practices aimed at addressing the demand for quality seedling material in the region.
Speaking during an interview, HOSA Patron, who is also the Director, Directorate of Performance Contracting and Appraisal (DIPCA), Prof. John Wesonga said, the HOSA Project seeks to provide students with a platform that will empower them with practical skills, encouraging them to take a central position in showcasing their innovation skills and products.
“This initiative gives the students a space where they can practice and learn from their mistakes, and build their competence through hands-on approach,” Prof. Wesonga observed.
Some of HOSA members in the greenhouse
He underscored the importance of competence based education in an effort to churn out holistic students in the agricultural sector, saying the project is in line with ensuring students become their own managers early enough, consolidating their entrepreneurial skills which would put them in good stead when starting their own businesses in future.
With higher institutions of learning being at the forefront of ensuring the government implements the Big 4 Agenda, especially, Food Security pillar, the HOSA Patron said that the project will ensure that “JKUAT is able to participate holistically by providing clean and adequate planting material to the farmers, thus playing a critical towards improving the country’s food basket.”
HOSA Chairman, Bachelors of Horticulture, Fourth Year Student, Joash Njani, exuded confidence about the project citing it as “A step forward” in relation to their previous undertakings of selling vegetables which he said, they would incorporate their experiences to ensure the HOSA project success.
Mr. Njani said, the project which uses new technology such as the misting system, encourages healthy plants to achieve their growth potential, will ensure students are equipped with new and relevant skills in tandem with new agricultural technologies in order to effectively play their role in the dynamic job market.
The HOSA Chairman said the success of the Tissue Culture technology at JKUAT had challenged them to venture into seedling farming; impelling them to seek better ways of leveraging their agricultural expertise by utilizing limited space and resources.
According to Njani, HOSA will be handling seeds for Squash (Managu), Batternut (Malenge), Sweet potatoes, Spinach (Swisschard) and Courgette (Zucchini) with prospects of expanding their portfolio in response to anticipated rising demand.