Prince Charles unveils a bronze statue of a sheep farmer to mark the show's centenary

The prince drew applause from the audience at Llanelwedd when he said: "Why on earth can't we bring back good old-fashioned home economics so children can be taught how to cook and learn about food?"

Instead, he added, people were obsessed with the "political correctness" of hygiene and food technology.

In a wide-ranging speech, the prince also warned farmers that they needed to hone their marketing skills, as farming faced major changes.

If Wales is the land of my fathers then it has to become the brand of my fathers Prince Charles

The prince made his comments while touching on the importance of adapting for the future ahead of changes to the Common Agricultural Policy next year.

His comments were been welcomed by a teaching union which urged change to the curriculum.

Secretary of the National Association of School Teachers and Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) in Wales, Geraint Davies, said: "I would agree with the prince. I've been saying this for a few years.

The Prince, pictured with his prize-winning cockerel at the Royal Welsh Show

"The school curriculum has become far too academic and it has led to disaffection among teenagers who cannot cope and who then turn their backs on education."

The amount of school lessons focussing on cooking had dropped in recent years, added Mr Davies.

"Home economics, woodwork and metal work was commonplace in schools two decades ago," Mr Davies said.

"And this is reflected in the workplace because we're not producing enough people with practical skills.

"During the 1980s, these skills were deemed unfashionable and we need to turn the clock back."

The prince's remarks also echoed comments by Cardiff Central MP Jon Owen Jones last week, who called on schools to teach more cookery skills to help combat obesity.

The prince, referring to changes in farming with the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, said the emphasis would be on quality, not quantity.

He told the audience in the grandstand show ring: "New skills need to be learned It won't be enough to produce a quality product in the future we will have to market it.

"If Wales is the land of my fathers then it has to become the brand of my fathers."

Prince Charles also paid tribute to the chairman of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, Dr Emrys Evans, who died on Sunday aged 80.

"He did so much for the society and was much-loved," he said.

He added how delighted he was to be attending the show and praised farming and farmers in Wales.

Before his speech from the show grandstand, he was introduced to a number of officials, among them was Rhodri Morgan and Carwyn Jones.