Policy Initiatives for Enhancing Agricultural Education and Training-Industry Linkage for Sustainable Agro-Businesses in Enugu State

Abstract

The study examines policy initiatives for enhancing agricultural education and training (AET)-industry linkage in skill training for sustainable agro-business in Enugu state. The study adopted survey research design. Four research questions were formulated to guide the study. The population for the study was 330 made up of 100 lecturers of agricultural education, 159 registered farmers and 71 workers in the ministry of commerce and industry in Enugu State. No sampling was done because the population is manageable. Structured questionnaire was employed as instrument for data collection. The instrument was face-validated by three experts in agricultural education and training programme and one registered farmer. Cronbach Alpha Reliability method was used to determine the internal consistency of the items which yielded a reliability co-efficient of 0.87. Data was collected with the help of two research assistants and analysed using mean to answer the research questions, while the t-test statistic was used to test the null hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The Results of the analysis showed that the challenges to AET-industry linkage include, no forum for effective interaction between the two bodies, among others. Establishing a skill-trade union for educators and agro-industries is one of the initiatives by the ministry of commerce and industry; knowing existing agro-industries and skills required by them is an initiative by AET educators; and updating AET educators about the changing trends in the market and industries are initiatives by agro- industries among others which could be made into policies by the government to establish and strengthen AET-industry linkage in agricultural skill training for sustainable agro-industries in Enugu State. It was recommended among others that policies be made by the government through relevant agencies to address the challenges identified and provide a guide for AET and industries to collaborate to ensure continuous supply of skilled-manpower to agro-businesses for sustainable development.