Decline in Agriculture Course Enrolment at Raises Concerns
Tigania West Member of Parliament (MP) John Mutunga, who also serves as the Chairperson of the National Assembly Agriculture Committee, has expressed concerns about the significant decline in student enrolment in agriculture courses at higher education institutions.
Speaking to a local media outlet on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, Mutunga emphasized the urgent need to revitalize the sector.
He stated that the country depends on agriculture for sustainability, which necessitates more experts in the field.
Mutunga warned that as a nation heavily reliant on agriculture, Kenya risks facing a severe shortage of skilled personnel, which might force the country to hire foreign professionals.
He highlighted the critical importance of implementing strategies to rejuvenate interest in agriculture education and careers to safeguard the sustainability of the agricultural sector.
Follow Teachers Updates Page On Facebook
Mutunga pointed out that the government should ensure job opportunities for graduates of agricultural-related courses, as the lack of such opportunities has led to decreased enrolment in agricultural faculties at colleges and universities in recent years.
He noted that many young people do not see agriculture as an attractive career path, mistakenly believing it lacks appeal to potential employers.
He emphasized the need to create opportunities for individuals to engage in various aspects of agriculture, including production, aggregation, management, and value addition.
Additionally, Mutunga observed that the youth have an aversion to labour-intensive tasks, suggesting that mechanisation will help reduce labour inputs and increase the sector’s attractiveness to the younger generation.
In Our Other News: TSC AON Minet Registration, Adding NHIF Number & Dependants
By investing in mechanisation and other value-adding processes such as harvesting, transportation, and processing, Mutunga believes agriculture can become a more appealing and lucrative venture for the youth.
Decline in Agriculture Course Enrolment at Raises Concerns
Follow Teachers Updates on Facebook, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), WhatsApp, Telegram, and Instagram. Get in touch with our editors at [email protected].
Discussion about this post