The growth of the agriculture sector in Namibia has been phenomenal. Statistics indicate agriculture in Namibia contributes around 5% of the national Gross Domestic Product. This is in addition to between 25% and 40% of Namibians who depend on subsistence agriculture and herding. Primary products included livestock and meat products, crop farming and forestry. Despite such good showing, relatively few people take up agriculture as a field of study. This needs to change.
Put simply, agriculture is the art, science, and practice of farming, and it has led to the development of cities and trade. Agriculture enabled people to grow food in one place, leading to the permanent civilizations we have today. With the advancement of new technology, agriculture has evolved making work less manual. Agriculture nowadays involves a wide range of fields, from genetic modification of plants to artificial insemination for breeding animals.
There are varieties of specialisations within the agricultural industry that you may want to explore if this is an area you are interested in. You can gain the necessary knowledge and skills in this subject with a degree in agriculture.
This includes raising livestock and growing crops for food production. Studying agriculture at a degree level will equip you with a combination of skills and knowledge in farming practice, sustainability, environmental management, food production and more.
This subject is unique in that it combines several disciplines such as science, economics, and business for a multifaceted approach. There is a lot of variety within the field and you can explore different topics depending on your interests. For example, some courses might cover the relationship between biology and technology for increasing food production or the connection between engineering and farming. You can explore these interests when choosing optional modules.
Agriculture programmes can have different degree titles depending on the focus of the course. So, if you are more interested in sustainable agriculture, this might be a better-suited degree than just agriculture without the specialisation. Looking into different programmes should help you figure out which area of agriculture interests you most.
As you can see, there are many professions you could pursue with an agriculture degree that’s not just limited to being a farmer. This degree will also provide you with useful transferable skills across a wide range of sectors.
Agriculture plays a critical role in the entire life of a given economy. Agriculture is the backbone of the economic system of a given country. In addition to providing food and raw material, agriculture also provides employment opportunities to a very large percentage of the population. Agriculture is the main source of national income for most developing countries, and Namibia is no exception.
Above all, it contributes towards rural-urban balancing. Through the creation of employment in rural areas, it discourages rural-to-urban migration and this helps in the better distribution of incomes and balanced use of social amenities. Through all these multiplier effects, agriculture is perceived to be an engine of economic growth and development.
A stable agricultural sector ensures a nation of food security. The main requirement of any country is food security. Food security prevents malnourishment, which has traditionally been believed to be one of the major problems faced by developing countries. – tjatindi@gmail.com