At the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, beauty meets education in state-of-the-art greenhouses where premium flower varieties flourish under careful supervision. The initiative, aimed at providing hands-on floriculture experience, has successfully cultivated high-demand varieties including Avalanche, Bacardi, Rihanna, and Perry roses.
“Our primary goal is twofold,” explains Geoffrey Chandia, a staff member at the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. “We’re not just growing flowers; we’re growing knowledge. These greenhouses serve as living laboratories where students learn practical floriculture skills while generating income through flower sales.”
The greenhouse project has become a model of experiential learning, where theory meets practice. Students engage in every aspect of flower production – from soil preparation and planting to pest management and harvest techniques.
Premium varieties like Avalanche, known for its pure white blooms and nicknamed ‘Article Queen’ in the industry, stand alongside the vibrant Bacardi roses. The Rihanna and Perry varieties add their unique characteristics to the collection, offering students exposure to diverse flower genetics and market preferences.
“What makes this program special is its real-world application,” Chandia continues. “Students don’t just learn how to grow flowers; they understand market demands, quality control, and the business aspects of floriculture. They’re graduating with practical skills that are immediately applicable in the industry.”
The flowers, now ready for market, represent more than just beautiful blooms – they’re the fruits of educational innovation. This sustainable approach to learning ensures students gain valuable experience while the program partially funds itself through flower sales.
The initiative demonstrates how educational institutions can bridge the gap between academic theory and practical application, preparing students for successful careers in the growing floriculture sector.
For Wasswa Victor, a third-year Bachelor of Agriculture student, the greenhouse experience has been transformative. “Working with these premium varieties has opened my eyes to the commercial potential of floriculture,” he shares. “We’re not just learning theory from books – we’re getting our hands dirty, understanding the real challenges and rewards of flower production. The skills we’re gaining here are invaluable for our future careers.”
Kwesiga Anatolia, another Agriculture student passionate about floriculture, emphasizes the practical benefits of the program. “Managing these greenhouses has taught us everything from optimal temperature control to pest management,” he explains. “The experience of growing high-value varieties like Avalanche and Bacardi has given me the confidence to consider starting my own floriculture business after graduation.”
For aspiring florists and agricultural entrepreneurs like Wasswa and Kwesiga, the Faculty’s greenhouse has become more than a training ground – it’s an incubator for future industry leaders in floriculture.
Story by: Shaban Ainembabazi and Brens Willie Wambedde