The description of Agricultural Engineering plays a pivotal and important role in the development of Nigeria. These are in the areas of food security, reduction of drudgery in agricultural work, rural infrastructural development, soil and water resources management, environmental management, improvement in the quality of life of farmers, sustainable agriculture, and industrial development.
Agricultural engineering graduates have in the past found jobs in the following areas of the economy: Government, Self-employment, Educational Institutions, Research and Development Institutions, International Organizations, and other areas not usually recognized by employers of labor.
Agricultural Engineering in National Development
1. Food Security and the Role of Agricultural Engineering
Food security has recently become an important concept in sub-Saharan Africa. For Nigeria, the idea of food security revolves around ensuring that food is readily available in the right quantity and quality and at an affordable price.
Food security can only be achieved if the food is produced in abundant quantity and on a commercial scale. Even when food is produced abundantly, if it is not properly managed, a significant portion will be lost to deterioration.
The Federal Government and some States in Nigeria have recognized the need to ensure food security and have established institutions to address this.
These include the Federal Strategic Food Reserve under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and other related parastatals. In all these areas, Agricultural Engineering principles are applied to ensure adequate food supply all year round.
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2. Reduction of Drudgery in Agricultural Work
Traditional farming methods in Nigeria are characterized by the use of primitive tools and technologies such as hoes, machetes, and axes. A visit to any rural farming community will reveal how tedious it is to work with hand tools.
After hours of toil under the sun, most farmers can only cover a small fraction of a hectare. The drudgery involved in Nigerian traditional agriculture is evident on the faces and bodies of farmers.
The introduction of machines has mechanized operations that were previously handled manually. Operating machines is less tedious than manual operations.
The reduction in drudgery with the introduction of machinery makes agricultural work more attractive to the younger generation, leading to fewer rural-urban migrations and improved dignity for agricultural workers.
3. Rural Infrastructural Development through Agricultural Engineering
Most large-scale agricultural development programs involve the development of basic rural infrastructure. These include water supply, roads, electricity, schools, markets, energy systems, maintenance systems, processing facilities, and waste management systems. When these infrastructures are developed for farming, the rural population also benefits.
Thus, agricultural engineering has been referred to as a catalyst for rural infrastructural development. With the provision of these infrastructures, the standard of living for rural dwellers improves as they gain access to essential services.
4. Natural Resources Conservation through Agricultural Engineering
The natural resources essential for agricultural practices include soil, water, and air. One of the important roles of agricultural engineering is the optimal management of these resources, ensuring their conservation.
If soil and water resources are used without conservation, they may eventually be depleted to a point where they can no longer support plant and animal life.
The Soil and Water Engineering option in Agricultural Engineering focuses on the conservation and reclamation of these resources. Practices such as conservation tillage, terracing, and erosion control are employed to conserve soil and water resources.
Agricultural Engineers in institutions such as the River Basin Development Authorities and Agricultural Development Projects work to implement these practices.
5. Environmental Management through Agricultural Engineering
A major area of Agricultural Engineering is environmental management. This involves controlling and managing different aspects of the environment.
First, Agricultural Engineering ensures the control of environmental factors such as moisture, temperature, and humidity for the benefit of crops and animals. After harvest, technologies are provided to manage the storage environment.
The second aspect of environmental management deals with solid and liquid waste disposal. Agriculture produces waste in different forms, such as animal dung, crop residue, and damaged food. Agricultural Engineering offers techniques for managing these wastes, including recycling and converting them into useful products.
The third area of environmental management is the control of natural resource use, forestry, and horticulture, where machines and systems are provided for environmental beautification.
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Improvement in Farmers’ Quality of Life through Agricultural Engineering
With the application of agricultural engineering, the quality of life for farmers is significantly improved. Mechanization in agriculture enables production on a larger scale, shifting farmers from subsistence to commercial farming.
Increased production results in higher profits, providing farmers with more disposable income, which can be invested in other economic ventures. In addition, farmers can afford to improve their living standards, which aligns with national development strategies.
Sustainable Agriculture Supported by Agricultural Engineering
Sustainable agriculture is practiced in a way that ensures future generations can continue to engage in agricultural activities. Agricultural Engineering provides technologies that conserve resources such as soil, water, energy, and funds while ensuring sufficient food production for the present generation.
Through optimization techniques, Agricultural Engineering ensures that resources are used efficiently, maintaining the balance between current and future agricultural needs.
Industrial Development through Agricultural Engineering
When engineering is applied in agriculture, it results in the production of surplus food, which exceeds immediate consumption needs. This surplus can be processed into industrial raw materials for local use or export, leading to the development of food processing industries.
For example, cassava is now commonly processed into various industrial raw materials. As industries develop, more employment opportunities arise, and government revenue increases through taxation, contributing to a stronger economy.
Career Opportunities in Agricultural Engineering
1. Government Ministries and Agricultural Engineering Careers
Nigeria operates at three levels of government federal, state, and local. Each level employs agricultural engineers in various ministries, including Agriculture, Water Resources, Environment, and Science and Technology.
At the federal level, these ministries have departments where agricultural engineers contribute to national development. Similar departments exist at the state and local levels.
2. Government Parastatals Employing Agricultural Engineers
Several government agencies are supervised by ministries or directly by state executives or the Presidency. Many of these agencies are agricultural-based, employing agricultural engineers. Some include Tractor and Equipment Hiring companies, Environmental Protection Agencies, the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization, and the River Basin Development Authorities.
3. Private Sector and Agricultural Engineering Opportunities
The private sector offers numerous opportunities for agricultural engineers in service and production industries.
These include companies involved in agricultural machinery marketing, agrochemicals, and agricultural service provision, such as Tractor and Equipment (Division of UAC), Diezengoff, and Leventis Technical, among others.
Agricultural engineers also find employment in food processing companies, equipment manufacturing companies, and various production industries.
4. Educational Institutions Employing Agricultural Engineers
Agricultural engineers are employed in educational institutions such as Colleges of Agriculture, Polytechnics, and Universities. These institutions have departments of Agricultural Engineering and Farm Operation Centres where agricultural engineers contribute to education and research.
5. Research and Development Institutions in Agricultural Engineering
Numerous Research and Development (R&D) institutions under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture employ agricultural engineers. These institutions focus on agricultural innovations, development projects, and field demonstrations, with agricultural engineers playing key roles in these efforts.
6. International Organizations Employing Agricultural Engineers
International organizations involved in agricultural and rural development, such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Bank, employ agricultural engineers.
These organizations contribute to rural and agricultural development in Nigeria, providing further employment opportunities for agricultural engineers.
7. Self-Employment Opportunities for Agricultural Engineers
Self-employment offers a range of opportunities for agricultural engineers, particularly in consultancy, project feasibility, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
Agricultural engineers can also engage in the supply of agricultural raw materials to food processing industries, contributing to post-harvest systems and storage solutions.
8. Other Areas of Employment for Agricultural Engineers
Certain employment areas often overlook agricultural engineers, even in sectors where their expertise is relevant. For example, agricultural engineering was excluded from a recent job advertisement by the Niger Delta Development Commission, despite the fact that the region’s economy is largely agricultural.
Recognizing the value of agricultural engineers in such areas can enhance their contribution to national development.
Agricultural Engineering, which is rooted in grassroots development, has been instrumental in shaping national growth and providing diverse career opportunities for its graduates.
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