Career path in Agricultural
Sciences
Role modelling event
Venue: KARI-TRC
Muguga wa Gatonya secondary school
28th May 2009

Agricultural science-A promising future?
Rarely seen as career of choice
Agriculture is important!
–Food insecurity crisis in Africa
–Environmental degradation
“Green revolution”

Agriculture a career of Choice?
Agriculture is sustainable i.e.
–A career
–Own farming business
–Training
Important to keep an open mind and not to be
limited to thinking in the traditional sense of
Agriculture is only “farming”

What opportunities exist?
Subject choice in secondary schools
Important to choose and excel in Sciences
and/or Agriculture
After form four:
Universities: offer Degrees and Diplomas
Public universities-Joint admissions board-JAB
-Self sponsored
Private universities

Other Opportunities:
Tertiary colleges:
Offer Diplomas and Certificates
Cut-off points for University is often high
“Start off in tertiary college and continue
with a Degree in the University”

Agricultural subjects
–Agricultural economics/Agribusiness
–Agroforestry
–Agronomy
–Animal and livestock sciences
–Aquatic resources and fisheries
–Biodiversity consevation
–Crop sciences (horticulture)
–Ecology

Agricultural subjects cont.
–Entomology
–Extension education
–Food sciences and nutrition
–Molecular Biology (plant & animal breeding)
–Natural resources management
–Soil sciences
–Water and irrigation management

Obstacles
Ending up jobless after training
Ending up as a “poor farmer”
Lack of money and research facilities
Lack of involvement of the government
Lack of mentorship (AWARD making efforts)

How to attract the youth
•Policies needed to make Agriculture attractive
•Curriculum revision
•Agriculture to be taught from primary
•Attachment of secondary school leavers to
research institutes
•Most universities teaching old things
•Government and research institutes to offer
scholarships
•“Its not always about the money!”

Parting shot
“In a country with no food, you have chaos”