The Federal Government has approved the intro of brand-new farming programmes in polytechnics and colleges of education across Nigeria as part of efforts to gear up students with practical skills and prepare them for the needs of modern-day agriculture.
The new locations of research study include Produce Evaluation and Export Management, Post-Harvest Technology, Organic Crop Production, Hydrology and Water Resources Management, and Organic Animal Production.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced the development on Thursday in Abuja while getting the report of the National Execution Committee on the Evaluation and Development of Agricultural Curricula for Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria.
Alausa stated the curriculum review was needed since lots of existing farming programs no longer reflected existing developments in the sector or adequately prepared graduates for work and entrepreneurship.
He kept in mind that modern-day farming had actually progressed significantly, with technologies such as greenhouse farming, hydroponics and aeroponics becoming increasingly crucial, yet numerous Nigerian institutions continued to put higher focus on theoretical direction.
According to the minister, insufficient practical exposure was among the factors graduates of agricultural programs struggled to equate their scholastic knowledge into efficient endeavors.
He also observed that several organizations offering agriculture-related courses did not have functional demonstration farms where trainees could obtain hands-on experience.
Alausa said the revised programmes were designed to bridge these spaces by giving students useful and industry-relevant knowledge that might add to food production, farming processing and economic diversity.
Among the new programs, Produce Inspection and Export Management, will be offered at the National Diploma and Higher National Diploma levels.
The minister said the program would help establish specialists capable of supporting Nigeria’s agricultural export ambitions by ensuring that produce satisfies the standards needed in local and international markets.
He also recognized Post-Harvest Innovation as a significant addition, offered the volume of farming products lost between harvesting and usage.
Alausa stated decreasing post-harvest losses would enhance food schedule and make it possible for farmers and other players in the agricultural value chain to derive higher economic value from their produce.
The committee also developed new occupational standards for agricultural skills training. According to the National Board for Technical Education Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, 31 National Occupational Standards were produced, with 27 being entirely brand-new and four existing requirements examined.
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Bugaje said the development represented a substantial expansion from the four occupational standards previously offered for agriculture.
He revealed that a total of 70 curricula and occupational requirements were developed to cover different levels and areas of agricultural education and skills training.
According to him, the pertinent regulative bodies had examined and authorized the new documents, paving the way for their implementation.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, said successful execution would require comprehensive engagement with organizations, speakers, market operators and other stakeholders.
Ahmad discussed that the revised curriculum would substantially increase the practical component of agricultural education.
She stated the new structure would run on an 80 percent practical and 20 per cent theoretical design, compared with the previous structure, which placed 70 percent focus on theory and 30 per cent on useful training.
The minister worried that stakeholders needed to comprehend the goals of the reform to avoid poor execution.
She therefore got in touch with the NBTE and other pertinent companies to establish a thorough sensitisation and rollout program before the new curricula are completely executed.
Ahmad also advised the government to make appropriate funding readily available for the implementation procedure, especially for training lecturers and other stakeholders who will be accountable for delivering the revised programmes.
Alausa stated the reform was particularly essential as Nigeria continues to look for ways to enhance food security, increase farming productivity and decrease its reliance on petroleum.
He kept in mind that in spite of the nation’s considerable farming potential, a large proportion of farming remains at subsistence level, limiting productivity and economic returns.
The minister stated the government could no longer depend on traditional agricultural practices alone and should equip young Nigerians with the technical knowledge needed to operate modern-day and commercially practical agricultural enterprises.
The curriculum review types part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to make tertiary technical and trade education more competency-based and responsive to labour market demands.
The federal government is likewise seeking to utilize the reform to enhance farming worth chains, promote agro-processing, reduce food losses and increase Nigeria’s capability to participate in international agricultural trade.
With the inclusion of specialised courses covering export management, organic production, post-harvest handling and water resources, the modified curriculum is anticipated to move farming education beyond classroom theory and provide trainees skills that can be applied directly to farming, agribusiness and associated markets.