Students of Cambridge International School explored AGC Agro Farm to mark the beginning of Garden based learning programmes by AGC Amritsar in which the students got the insight of things related to agriculture such as they experienced live crop demonstrations, protected cultivation of flowers and vegetables. The main objective behind taking students to the visit was to go beyond academics by providing them training on kitchen garden, hydroponics and vermicomposting. It gave them a practical perspective on the internal working of the Department of Agriculture providing them an opportunity to learn practically through interaction. The students also learned the techniques of harvesting by having a practical exposure harvesting the tomatoes. They learned how they can use these techniques for their home garden.
Chairman Sh. Amit Sharma stated that the children today are one generation removed from agriculture and their connection to agriculture is through their grandparents, if at all. Most people bemoan the fact that children in inner cities don’t have a clue about farms and such visits help the students to associate theoretical knowledge with industrial aspects. Stating the benefits of the positive aspects of organic farming, Madam Ragini Sharma (Director Finance, AGC) said,”From an agricultural standpoint, we want children to be knowledgeable about local agriculture and Garden based Learning provides students with opportunities to interact with nature on a personal level that promotes positive behaviour changes.”
Stating the need of the hour, Managing Director Dr. Rajneesh Arora said,” In this modernised world, students need hands-on experience in the subjects they study and such trainings lay the foundation for learning agriculture and allied subjects. He further added, “ The more the students learn practically, the more deeply they will understand and remember what they learn.” Principal Dr. V. K. Banga said,” The goals of this training is to share the good educational ideas that are already in practice on farms and to encourage the students by focusing on such activities. This allows children to “connect the dots” between the subjects they learn at school and how they can apply those subjects out in the “real world.” Ms Dipti Malhotra, Dean UG Courses welcomed the students and said,“It’s well known that spending time in nature is good for both mental and physical health and such trainings will allow the students to experience the connection with the natural world first-hand. A farm field trip gives students the chance to understand how they can apply the things they’ve learned to a real situation.”
