Agricultural education set to get fillip
MPs will vote today on a proposal to promote the studies of agriculture in Bahrain, by pumping more related subjects in the existing curricula, and establishing a college specialised in agricultural education.
The proposal was submitted back in May by MP Abdulla Binhowail, who affirmed then “this would ensure food security in Bahrain.”
“The proposal targets developing the country’s agriculture field on all aspects. Having advanced agriculture would reflect positively on national incomes and achieve the requirements of national security,” Binhowail said in his presentation.
The MP, who is also the head of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs, National Security and Defence Committee, explained that the proposal supports Article 9-G in the Kingdom’s constitution, which stipulates that “the state shall make the necessary arrangements to ensure the utilisation of arable land in a productive manner, and shall endeavour to raise the standard of farmers. The law shall specify the means whereby assistance and ownership of land are granted to small farmers.”
MP Binhowail added, “This proposal will ensure sufficient support to agriculture in Bahrain by providing an appropriate educational environment for farmers and others who are interested to work in the field. It would also enable them to establish their own farms and agricultural businesses.”
After studying the proposal for six months, the council’s Services Committee approved it and will present its report on the matter before the other members of the Parliament for voting today.
Not a necessity now, says UoB
In its reply to the committee’s queries about the proposal, especially the part concerning the establishment of a specialised agricultural college, University of Bahrain (UoB) stated that “the field of agriculture and achieving food security is indeed crucial, but this doesn’t make establishing an agricultural college or introducing agricultural subjects a necessity. Sufficient studying of the matter is required.”
UoB suggested that related subjects could come under the existing biological studies programme at the university.
“As much as 70 per cent of the researches that was internationally published in regards to the field of agriculture in Bahrain, were done through the Biological Studies Department at UoB’s College of Science.”
“The department introduces subjects related to agricultural science and that’s what positioned it among the advanced participants (first- third) of Bahrain International Garden Show every year,” the university added.
Photo Shop: The proposal includes setting up a college specialised in agricultural education
Related Posts