This Program states that largerinvestments in agricultural research, extension, andeducation systems are required to achieve the targetedincrease in agricultural output of 6 percent a year over thenext 20 years.To enhance the quality and productivity ofAgricultural Education and Training (AET) in Africa, thecase for improving its agricultural education capacities iscompelling in view of their seminal role in agriculturaldevelopment elsewhere in the world. AET development was anintegral part of strategies of countries that grewagriculture successfully, such as Brazil, India, andMalaysia. The analytical work carried out on AET in Africaidentified some priorities as key to modernize agriculturaleducation in Africa These priorities are: 1 Political willmust be generated in support of agricultural development byeducating the public about its role in economic growth andpoverty reduction, creating capacities for lobbying, joiningforces with other stakeholders, and sustaining these effortsover two or three decades.(2) It is desirable to assess andre-balance AET enrollment profiles away from secondary levelvocational training towards diploma, degree, andpost-graduate levels (3) It is essential to replenish humancapital by strengthening and expanding national Master ofScience programs, laying the foundation for Ph.D. programs,and tackling the conundrum of incentives for staffretention.(4) Finances must be managed proactively by makingmore efficient use of existing resources, mobilizingnon-public resources, and persuading donors to financeoperating costs.(5) Much better gender balance must beachieved among AET graduates. African universities and otherinstitutions of higher learning ultimately will beresponsible for replenishing the stock of human capital innational research and extension services, and for providingthem with the broader set of skills necessary to growagriculture in the 21st century.
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