Is Agricultural Engineering a good course to study in Nigeria?

Is Agricultural Engineering a good course to study in Nigeria?

Is agricultural engineering a good course to study in our present Nigeria?

There is no doubt that the economy of any country asserts a significant influence on the value of any discipline or field. A look into Nigeria’s economy would inform us that our economy is a little crippled.

While some are able to enjoy the sweeter part of the economy, more than half of the populace is in abject poverty. What then is the fate of the numerous graduates in Agricultural engineering disgorging out of the university system of Nigeria?

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Are there enough jobs and opportunities for agricultural engineering graduates in Nigeria?

Does the career of agricultural engineering holds much value in a country like this one.

A simple analysis would give a deep insight into the fate of agricultural engineering graduates in a country like Nigeria.

What is Agricultural Engineering?

Agricultural engineering is a branch in engineering and agriculture.

It emphasizes the development of farm machinery and implements (for tilling soils and planting seeds, harvesting of crops) and machinery for the storage and processing of crops into agricultural products.

In other words, agricultural engineering is the focus on the technology facet or part of agriculture.

The advancement of technology has its benefits cuts across different fields. Among these numerous fields is agriculture. Agriculture, when manually done especially on a large or commercial scale can be killing and to some extent, impossible. Hence, the need for the incorporation of technology into agriculture.

Agricultural engineers also engage in the development of machinery for storage and processing. This is because they are so many agricultural products that need to be processed and packaged before they can be sent for mass consumption. This is only possible through the aid of technology.

Indeed, agricultural engineering practice would play a significant role in the agricultural sector of Nigeria.

Measuring the impact of Agricultural Engineering Practice in Nigeria

It is pertinent to draw your attention to the point that there are not so many agricultural engineers in Nigeria, that is, when compared to other engineering or agricultural disciplines. This is as a result of the many universities in Nigeria that do not offer admission into the agricultural engineering program.

There is also the problem of lack of competence among available professional agricultural engineers that the country is able to output. This is influence by many factors. However, a major factor is the neglect of the practical approach of teaching and over-emphasis of theoretical concepts by most universities. Hence, a need to reinforce the practical part of teaching in most Nigerian universities.

This single factor has led to the bigger factor of lack of competency among agricultural engineers available in the country.

Agricultural engineers are meant to understand deeply, mechanical engineering concepts, in the designing, maintenance, and operation of machinery for commercial farm work or operations. However, the reverse happens to be the case in Nigeria.

Evidence of this is a lack of farm machinery available in the country and a need to import farm machinery.

An interesting part of agricultural engineering is the mechanization of the farm. This has to some extent experienced successes, as this practice is founded on theoretical knowledge. 

Is an Agricultural Engineering degree worth it in Nigeria?

Agricultural engineering is a course that comes with a lot of benefits.

 Unless there is a revamp in the economy of Nigeria, the course would continue to struggle. There is, therefore, a need for agricultural engineers to possess the required skills and attention drawn to agriculture.