AGRICULTURE AS A FILED OF STUDY (Why We Need to Choose Agriculture)

What type of career do you aspire to have? Do you want to be an artist, a business person, or a policymaker?

Or, have you ever wanted to become a farmer? I would not be surprised if you said no.


When weighing career choices, many young people in the developing world tend to shy away from agriculture.  Plenty of evidence shows us that agriculture provides youth a viable way to harvest success and grow a sustainable future. In other words, I believe youth can, and should, choose agriculture.
Considering that everybody eats, and therefore has at least a tenuous connection with agriculture, it’s amazing how ignorant so many people are of it. The latest example is generating a fair amount of negative buzz among those who care about agriculture’s future.

Terence Loose wrote a piece for the website Yahoo! with the headline “College Majors That Are Useless.” He listed five, and the majority, believe it or not, are in ag: Agriculture (meaning farm management), Horticulture, and Animal Science. The other two were Fashion Design and Theater, and I really can’t quibble with those, though that might be demonstrating my own ignorance. Fashion, especially, is not my area of expertise. Just like agriculture is not Loose’s.One rebuff came from Allen S. Levine, Dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Minnesota (UM). Levine noted in a piece on The Huffington Post — he’s definitely not preaching to the choir — that he didn’t want to give the list credibility, but he couldn’t resist.

Levine writes that a degree in horticultural science is a ticket to a good job. Of the UM Class of 2010, 89% of graduates found a job in their field within a few months of graduation, and 100% of them said they are either very or moderately satisfied with their positions. Not bad.

As for farm managers, Levine notes that the number of self-employed farm producers will decline in coming years because farms are consolidating and technological advances are improving productivity. But the labor department also states job prospects are actually expected to increase for people who manage large farms and who grow products for niche markets such as organics. As current U.S. farmers — average age, 56 — retire, opportunities will be there for college graduates.
 Here are five reasons:

1. Agriculture matters to the future of development.
Agriculture is up to four times more effective than other sectors in reducing poverty. Increasingly, the world is counting on agriculture to produce more nutritious food for — and improve the livelihoods of — a booming population, especially the poor. What could be more meaningful than being part of a proven solution to such a critical challenge?

2. Agriculture can be a gold mine for young entrepreneurs. 
Meet Randa Filfili, a young entrepreneur from Senegal. She is also the first Senegalese producer who saw value in the fruit of cashew trees that others had considered waste, and turned it into “niche” jam products for export. Through agribusiness, Randa has not only carved out a successful career of her own, but also helped local farmers reach global markets, and create jobs for other young people — especially women. So, the next time you come across Randa’s all-natural cashew apple butter in your local produce store, think about how you can also start up a business in agriculture to help both yourself and the rural poor.

3. Agriculture is not cool? Think again. 
Innovations for Transparency In Uganda, a young team with the World Bank and UNICEF used a mobile and web-based app called “U-Report” to swiftly help 190,000 farmers save their bananas — a staple food for Ugandans — from a vicious disease. Countries like Kenya and Rwanda are also eager to boost productivity through information and communication technologies and other creative solutions. Agriculture in the developing world has become a field vibrant with effective innovations, thanks to a growing number of young techie minds that make it happen.


4. Agricultural research needs young brainpower. 
If you are a “young nerd” into development research, agriculture may be the right place for you. Numerous stories from East Africa and other places have shown that research revolutionizes agriculture and transforms livelihoods. Today, more than before, climate change and a growing demand for nutritious food are for fresh ideas and renewed knowledge to explore ICT in agriculture, foster climate-smart agriculture and innovate in the sector to power future growth.

5. The trend of youth choosing agriculture is growing. 
Attitudes toward agriculture are already changing. In Cameroon, where agriculture is becoming more competitive, young educated Cameroonians “have decided to become farmers, acquire land, grow maize professionally for trade, and manage their enterprises in order to earn a living,” according to Félix Nkapemin, an agricultural expert working with local farmers. Other countries like Armenia, Brazil, Malawi, and Senegal are investing in youth and agriculture with the support from the World Bank Group and other development organizations. Young people are also increasingly speaking up for themselves on why they choose agriculture.


The trend is growing. Support for the agriculture sector is increasing. The list of reasons is endless. This International Youth Day, I invite you to share your thoughts and experiences on why you think youth should engage in agriculture, and how it can help reduce poverty and boost shared prosperity.