A lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology is expressing worry at the rate at which agric graduates are drifting from their chosen fields after school.
Many agric students graduate annually from the KNUST but experts say few remain to work in the sector.
Though figures are readily not avialable, Dr. James Osei Mensah who describes the situation as “very pathetic” tells Luv Biz urgent solution is needed.
“For us to make the transition of agric as the way of life to agric as a business, we need the manpower with the requisite knowledge and these are the young people we have spent four years with the skill to make the change. So it is very disheartening when you see one of your students doing totally something different from the agric sector.”
He however indicates one cannot begrudge anybody for deciding not to practice agriculture, graduates are expected to effect change in the life of farmers and within the agric sector.
In the midst of difficulties, Dr. Osei Mensah reveals agriculture lecturers take consolation in the fact that some are able to stay and that is what encourages.
Figures from the Ghana Labour Force Survey Report put the unemployed at 1.2 million in 2015 representing 11.9 per cent of the national population.
Meanwhile, agriculture company, Farmerline Company limited has gone to the rescue with the KNUST Department of Agriculture Economics, Agribusiness and Extensions during an Agric Entrepreneurship Clinic.
Director of Farmer Services at Farmerline Company Limited, Schandoph Adu Bright says various opportunities exists in the agric sector for students.
