The Federal Government has introduced new programmes in produce inspection and export management, post-harvest technology, organic crop production, hydrology and water resources management, and organic animal production in polytechnics and colleges of education across the country.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja when he received the report of the National Implementation Committee on the Review and Development of Agricultural Curricula for Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria.
Alausa said the new programmes were designed to equip graduates with practical and industry-relevant skills needed to strengthen food production, reduce post-harvest losses, expand agricultural exports and support the development of Nigeria’s agricultural value chains.
The minister said the review became necessary because the existing agricultural curricula had become outdated and were not preparing graduates for the realities of modern agriculture.
He said, “We are talking about greenhouse farming, hydroponics, aeroponics and all forms of agriculture. And then we continue to train our students, our citizens, theoretically.”
