The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development chairman, Senator Saliu Mustapha, has called on the federal government to implement mandatory agricultural Education in secondary schools. The initiative is intended to tackle the urgent Food Security challenges and minimise reliance on imported food. His appeal was made during a public seminar organised by the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development at the University of Ilorin. Mustapha, speaking through Professor Binta Sulyman from Kwara State University, emphasised the vital importance of farming in maintaining food Security for Nigeria’s increasing population.
He voiced worries over the nation’s dependence on imported food, which has led to significant risks, underscoring the need for greater emphasis on domestic food production output. He advocates for including agricultural education as a compulsory course in secondary schools to drive positive transformation. Mustapha pointed out that the widespread belief that farming is a laborious and financially unviable field contributes to the lack of interest among young individuals. He stressed the need to confront this antiquated viewpoint by introducing students to modern, tech-savvy farming techniques.
Agribusiness offers a path to financial freedom and lower unemployment.
As a result, he provided examples from nations such as Israel and India, where an emphasis on farming education has transformed their food production capabilities. He supports an experiential method for instructing agriculture in educational institutions, aiming for the nation to mirror these achievements. He imagines a syllabus that blends theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience, allowing students to practice in outfitted environments like school-operated farms and greenhouses. He contends that this approach will transform the view of farming from mere survival tasks to legitimate career options and entrepreneurial ventures.
Also, the Senator addressed the promising economic opportunities within the industry, especially for young individuals. He emphasised that agribusiness can be a means of achieving financial independence and reducing unemployment. By providing youth with the necessary skills to manage contemporary farms and agribusinesses, the nation has the potential to cultivate a new wave of entrepreneurs who can reshape the sector. While praising the Federal Ministry of Education’s efforts to revise the national curriculum, Mustapha cautioned that Curriculum changes alone are insufficient.
Mustapha calls for concrete actions to implement the proposed policy.
Furthermore, he stressed the need for concrete actions to bring these policy shifts to life. Schools, he argued, must be equipped with the necessary resources to make the sector practical and impactful. This includes modern farming tools, greenhouses, and access to mechanised farming techniques. He urged participants in education and farming to partner in this effort. He emphasised the importance of cooperation among federal, state, and local governments to ensure that academic institutions are adequately equipped to instruct students in agriculture, aligning with modern farming needs.
Moreover, Mustapha contends that educating students about farming early on is essential for the nation to tackle the many issues plaguing its food production system. His comments arrive at a time when the industry struggles with various difficulties. With older people, restricted access to advanced farming techniques, and untapped farmland, the nation finds it hard to fulfil its food production requirements. Experts caution that without solid reforms, the region may fall short of realising its aspirations for food self-sufficiency. Mustapha, on the other hand, thinks that Nigeria can change this situation by requiring agricultural education in schools. By teaching students both the concepts and hands-on aspects of farming, they will gain the necessary skills to thrive in the industry.
Related Article: FG urge climate-smart agriculture adoption
Therefore, by presenting farming as a business opportunity, the hope is that more young people will be motivated to pursue careers in the field, thereby reducing Unemployment and enhancing economic development. Lastly, the push for farming to be mandatory in high schools is a crucial indication of the pressing need for reform in the industry. Incorporating this topic as a fundamental aspect of the curriculum while offering hands-on training will enable the country to make progress in preserving its food resources and creating valuable job opportunities for young people.