The Need For Agro-education In Africa

AGRO-

EDUCATION

The agricultural sector of any economy is no doubt the most important sector of the economy as it handles the major aspects vital to human existence.

Agriculture is inarguably the first occupation of man and it is still helping in life sustenance to date.

Any country or continent that is wise would not joke with its agriculture sector, because through agriculture, the three necessities of life (food clothing and shelter) are made available to man.

Agriculture is one of the most important economic activities in Africa. About two-thirds of the continent's working population is in the agriculture field.

Yearly, in each African country, agriculture contributes about 30 to 60 per cent of the gross domestic product, GDP and about 30 per cent of the value of each country's export.

Its importance and visibility to the African continent cannot be overlooked because agriculture has been an integral component of the development of the continent. It is a vital tool for economic growth and the alleviation of poverty.

However, the lack of Education and training in the sector has led to the underutilization of agricultural practices that increase productivity in the sector.

An increase in agricultural education training and further technical and vocational education training could lead to an increase in productivity, which may, in turn, reduce poverty in Africa, especially in the rural areas.

In 2014, According to a World Bank report on human capital development for Agriculture, the low level of human capital in Africa's agricultural sector remains a significant constraint to growth, poverty reduction, and food security on the continent.

To increase income generation from the agric sector in Africa, investment in agricultural education is imperative, as this will grow the agricultural sector to be more effective and efficient.

Not only does agricultural education serve to reduce poverty, but it also works to create increased food security, and promote sustainability by Sustainable Development Goal, SDG 2; End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

Studies from the past on agricultural education and training have shown that agric education and training is good in increasing participants' income.

One example of such past studies is the Farmer Field School, FFS which was conducted in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The farmer field school is an adult education

approach based on a participatory method of learning, technology development, and dissemination based on adult learning principles such as experimental learning.

Farmer field schools aim to provide agriculture education training in an informal setting to reach groups most marginalized in poverty-stricken areas; those with little or no formal education, and women.

Results after the study showed that after the farmer field school's participation, there was an increase in crop productivity and livestock production and that women benefited more than men.

It also showed that in all three countries involved in the research, the agricultural income of femaleheaded Farmer's field school households increased by 187 per cent.

Mostly, the agricultural income of female-headed households in Tanzania increased by 155 per cent and per capita agricultural income of female-headed households increased by over 300 per cent in Kenya for those who participated in the farmer's field school.

Engaging people in agricultural education and training contributes to poverty reduction and in turn in, creases incomes for those working in the sector.

Also, for Agriculture education and training to be even more successful, reform of current practices is required. Current Agriculture education and training systems struggle with inadequate resources in terms of physical infrastructure, communications facilities, and limited human resources for teaching and research.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the agricultural sector is at the heart of the economies of the least-developed countries.

It agreed that the largest sector of the economy in sub-Saharan Africa is agriculture with 52% of total employees working in agriculture, higher than the 39% working in agriculture in low-and middle-income countries worldwide.

According to a World Bank report in 2020, this percentage represents a staggering 230 million people working in agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa alone.

With such large numbers of people in low and medium-income countries working in agriculture, an improvement in agricultural performance has the potential to increase rural incomes and purchasing power for large numbers of people.

African leaders need to deliberate seriously on the future of the continent's agriculture and its potential impact on families, communities and the economy.

Making agricultural entrepreneurship and innovation a priority would help the continent positively because agriculture possesses as much potential for entrepreneurship expression as telecommunications or mining.

At a time when the youth unemployment numbers are soaring across the continent, agriculture provides a golden opportunity for young African entrepreneurs and innovators to create jobs and help communities to thrive.

Some African countries can not relate their economic success stories without mentioning their agriculture sector. Somalia and Liberia freed their economies through their agriculture sectors.

Liberia is one African country that places importance on its agriculture sector. The country leapt as a result of its investment in the agriculture sector. Almost 80 per cent of the West African GDP is contributed by Liberia.

About 68 per cent of the country's employment is contributed by agriculture. Though the country was ravaged by years of civil war that had devastating effects on the country, Liberia was able to locate a region that is most favourable for agriculture( tree cultivation) and developed it extensively.

This resulted in Liberia becoming known for producing cash crops like rubber and oil palm as its most produced cash crops. Over 35,000tons of rubber and 42,000 tons of oil palm are produced and exported every year.

Somalia is another African country where the agriculture sector helped its economy. The country contributes almost 60 per cent of the East African GDP.

It is interesting to know that only 1.6 per cent of the country's arid land is being cultivated.

Unlike Liberia which majored in tree cultivation, Somalia finds strength mostly in pastoral farming, though some areas practice irrigation-based cultivation.

Bananas and sugar came are the major commercial crops in Somalia.

In conclusion, agriculture is an important aspect of every economy. The people need to be sensitive to the importance of agriculture and the need to take the sector seriously.

There should be proper training in farming on a large scale for workforce and food production in the African economy.

African governments and leaders should have it in their minds that there is no regret in investing in the Agriculture sectors of any economy, therefore, they should act fast so they reap the fruits of their investments in no distant time.