The Nigerian agriculture sector remains an invaluable sector of the economy accounting for over 30 percent of employment opportunities and a major contributor to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Going to the university to study an agricultural course would equip you with the knowledge and practical skills that are well sought after in the Nigerian agricultural sector. In this article, we’ll be discussing the 5 best agricultural courses to study in Nigeria.
The Nigerian agriculture sector is one of the most
The 5 best agricultural courses to study in Nigeria would be discussed below:
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Food Science and Technology
Food Science and Technology is one of the most lucrative courses you could study in Nigeria due to the high prospects a degree in this course offers in the food industry. The duration for acquiring a degree in this course is eight semesters, that’s four academic years if you got admitted through the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB). Studying this course will equip you with the knowledge of applying methods of analysis of food, raw materials and ingredients, as well as assessing associated risks of food processing, and ways to implement and manage quality systems, among other things.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Technology, you can find work in the food industry, putting your developed skills into the selection, preservation, processing, packaging, distribution and use of safe food. Also, you can interpret and apply the legal provisions in the food sector and advise companies, groups and associations on food issues, among other roles.
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Fisheries and Aquaculture
The demand for aquatic food products in Nigeria continues to increase, whether it be fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and aquatic plants. Fisheries and Aquaculture, which is a four-year undergraduate programme, focuses on the study of how to cultivate freshwater, saltwater and brackish water populations, such as prawns, shrimps, fish, oysters, and water algae, under controlled or semi-controlled conditions, and commercially. Studying this course also equips you with the knowledge to enhance the production of these aquatic organisms. Generally, Fisheries and Aquaculture is a very hands-on course which makes learning better.
With a degree in Fisheries and Aquaculture, you can decide to put your knowledge and skills to growing fish tanks or fish ponds or to training people on how to commercially raise fish and other aquatic species. Also, there are several opportunities in the food industry in Nigeria where the skills and knowledge gained from the study of Fisheries and Aquaculture are in demand.
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Animal Science
If you have a passion for animals and an interest in working in animal-related business, you might want to consider studying Animal Science at a higher institution of learning in Nigeria. This course is one of the best courses there is in the agriculture discipline, as it holds bright prospects.
First of all, this course deals with the study of domestic animals to gain a better understanding of how they are bred, their behaviour and psychology, and how to manage them, whether they are pets, farm animals, or exotic animals. Studying this course will equip you with knowledge about proper nutrition, breeding, conservation, and preservation of livestock.
With a degree in Animal Science, you can choose to pursue a career in an animal-related field, such as farm management, dairy production, and wildlife conservation, to name a few. Furthermore, this course serves as a background should you want to tow the path of veterinary medicine, a highly lucrative profession in Nigeria. Other career paths of lecturing, research and working for government MDAs are also viable.
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Agricultural Economics and Extension
This course is among the 5 best courses to study in Nigeria today and it usually takes four academic years to obtain a degree, that’s if the mode of admission is JAMB. Studying Agricultural Economics and Extension will equip you with sound knowledge of the fundamental principles of economic theory and its application to the agriculture sector, and the principles involved in agricultural extension. The comprehensive theoretical knowledge and practical skills that a degree in Agricultural Economics and Extension will offer you will prepare you for productive and economic agricultural activities in both the public and private sectors.
As a graduate of this course, you can establish your own agribusiness. Also, you may choose to provide advisory services to agribusinesses; develop schemes for mobilizing agribusiness entrepreneurs into cooperative societies; and carry out agricultural information dissemination services for both the government and private agricultural establishments.
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Crop Science
Crop Science is another agricultural course worthy to be on this list. It takes eight semesters (i.e. four academic years) to complete a degree in Crop Science, that’s if you got admission to study this course through JAMB. If you got into studying this course through direct entry, you will spend two to three academic years depending on your qualifications.
Studying Crop Science will equip you with the knowledge and practical skills to improve farming production and crop development. With a degree in Crop Science, there are several career options you can decide to follow, such as working as a field representative for food processing companies, lecturing at higher institutions of learning, engaging in research, farming, or consulting for corporations, farmers and farm cooperatives. Since crop production is the largest subsector of agriculture in Nigeria, a degree in Crop Science is highly marketable in the job market, especially in the agriculture sector.
As we’ve stated earlier in the introductory paragraph of this article, agriculture remains one of the major contributors to the economy as revenues from this sector account for a substantial percentage of Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP). As private organizations and the various levels of government continue investing in agriculture, the more the demand for experts in this sector increases. So, earning a degree in any of the agricultural courses we’ve discussed above will provide you with the knowledge and practical skills to succeed in both the private and public sectors. What’s more, you can become self-reliant in any agribusiness you establish after you graduate.