ASSESSMENT OF AGRIBUSINESS EDUCATION AND TRAINING, AND YOUTH’S PARTICIPATION IN AGRIBUSINESS SECTOR IN SUDAN
Abstract
This study aimed to review the current agribusiness education and training curricula in Sudan and make sound recommendations and actions required to align the curriculum in the context of a dynamic agriculture/agribusiness sector. The study used variety of methods and tools to assess the supply and demand sides of agribusiness education and training in Sudan as follows: Analysis of existing documents, review of Agricultural Economics Departments of 17 Sudanese universities, field study which covered five States namely (Khartoum, River Nile, Gazira, Kassala, and Gadaref) where agribusiness incubations are located. The study sample included; 9 key informants from 9 universities, 10 key informants from agricultural extension departments, 5 key informants from agricultural research centers, 10 Agribusiness Incubation centres of five States and 160 youths (drawn from incubators in four States). The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented in the forms of charts and tables. The finding revealed that majority of the youths in Sudan that engaged in Agribusiness activities lacked the necessary knowledge and skills to make their agribusiness profitable and sustainable. This paper concluded that huge informational and skills gap contributes to lack of participation of the youth in agribusiness projects. Majority of the Sub-Saharan African countries have no formal and well-structured means of training and equip youths with necessary knowledge and skills to make them succeed in agribusinesses. This paper recommended provision of qualified vocational trainers for a long term sustainability of agricultural education program. The curriculum itself has to incorporate subjects that will help students develop their hard and soft skills, as well as improve their knowledge and competencies. To achieve this, it need not be rigid, and it has to be developed according to existing and foreseen social economic needs in order to fulfill industry requirement.
Keywords: Agribusiness, Education, Youth Agribusiness, Sudan
CITATION: Thiong’o, M. N., & Sunday, B. (2019) Assessment of agribusiness education and training, and youth’s participation in agribusiness sector in Sudan. The Strategic Journal of Business & Change Management, 6 (4), 1364 – 1376.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.61426/sjbcm.v6i4.1471
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