Experts in the agriculture sector have raised concern over consistent decrease in the number of students pursuing agriculture courses.
The National Assembly Agriculture Committee chairperson Tigania West MP John Mutunga has sounded the alarm over a worrying decline in student enrolment in agriculture courses.
This concerning development could see vital agriculture faculties closed, warned Mutunga.
While speaking to the Star on Tuesday during an interview, Mutunga stressed the urgent need to rekindle interest in agriculture among the youth.
"If left unaddressed, this trend could have grave repercussions, potentially forcing us to import agriculture professionals from abroad," the committee chairperson said.
"This underscores the critical importance of implementing strategies to rejuvenate interest in agriculture education and careers, safeguarding the sustainability of our agricultural sector,” Mutunga said.
He highlighted the gravity of the situation, pointing out the unfortunate reality of agricultural universities and colleges shutting their doors due to lack of student interest.
"Many young people fail to see the allure of agriculture as a career path, mistakenly believing it lacks appeal to potential employers," he said.
"As a nation that is heavily reliant on agriculture, we risk facing a severe shortage of skilled personnel, potentially necessitating the hiring of foreign professionals."
The MP emphasised on the need for making agriculture more enticing by adopting a holistic approach along the value chain.
"We must create opportunities for individuals to engage in various aspects of agriculture, from production to aggregation, management, and ultimately, value addition," he urged.
Mutunga said youth have an aversion to labour-intensive tasks, adding that mechanisation will help reduce labour inputs and increase attractiveness to the younger generation.
"By investing in mechanisation and other value-adding processes such as harvesting, transportation, and processing, we can make agriculture a more appealing and lucrative venture for our youth,” he said.
He added: “The transformation of agricultural produce through value addition holds immense potential to captivate the interest of our younger demographic.”
Timothy Njagi, a researcher from Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development at Egerton University attributed the decline in enrolment in agriculture courses to urban migration.
Njagi said a prevalent perception among the youth contributes significantly to this decline.
"Many young individuals fear that pursuing a degree in agriculture will confine them to rural areas," he said.
"With aspirations of urban living, they perceive agricultural jobs as low-paying and unattractive, leading to a gradual disinterest in agricultural studies."
He noted the closure or conversion of numerous technical colleges that once offered agricultural programmes.
"Even those transformed into universities have shifted focus away from agriculture, opting instead for business education," he said.
"This shift leaves a noticeable void, particularly in crucial areas like extension services, necessitating innovative approaches to maintain the effectiveness of our agricultural extension systems with limited personnel."
Njagi said the implications of declining interest in agricultural education extends beyond academia, posing challenges to the sustainability of rural economies and agricultural productivity.
“As urban migration continues to allure the younger generation, efforts to revitalise interest in agriculture must address these misconceptions and offer compelling opportunities for career growth and prosperity in rural areas,” he said.
By 2021, universities and technical institutions offering agriculture courses include Nairobi, Kenyatta, Eldoret, Pwani, Kirinyaga, Narok University College, Mount Kenya and Lukenya universities.
Others are Karen Technical Training Institute for the Deaf, South Eastern Kenya University, Rongo University, Kitale Technical Training Institute and Thika Institute of Technology.