An Associate Professor in Soil Fertility Management at the Department of Soil Science of the University of Cape Coast, Professor Kwame Agyei-Frimpong has expressed concern over the continual decline of students’ enrollment in agriculture across universities in Ghana.
Speaking to ATLFMNEWS on the sidelines of the School of Agriculture Research Seminar Series, he said students’ interests in agriculture and its related fields keep dwindling in all universities, especially public universities due to how the programme is packaged.
Prof. Agyei-Frimpong, who presented a paper on Precision Agriculture: Leveraging Technology to Drive Students’ Interest in Agricultural Education and Research for Improved Production and Profitability, also attributed the decline in enrollment into agricultural programs to the lack of integration of technology into the said field.
He indicated by saying “we did a research to find out how by integrating technology into the existing programs we would attract increase numbers of students to pursue agriculture. So, that is where we found out that the way to go is what we call precision agriculture.”
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Prof. Agyei-Frimpong however added that the educational system needs to be restructured to allow for the integration of technology into Agricultural programs to attract more students.
The Research Seminar aimed at providing a platform for lecturers and faculty members to discuss various researches done over the period and to allow students and the public to ask questions and to abreast themselves of current agricultural happenings.
Also, speakingon the topic, Assessing the quality of Table Eggs on the Ghanaian Market using Destructive and Non-destructive means, Head of the Meat Processing Unit, Professor Julius Kofi Hagan said most often egg consumers find it challenging in determining the quality and nutritional value of the eggs they purchase.
Professor Hagan therefore hinted that his outfit is working with other individuals to introduce a device used in determining the quality and nutritional values of eggs being sold on the Ghanaian markets.
Source: Eric Sekyi/ATLFMNEWS
