Manpower requirements for agricultural development in Africa

Abstract

It is now increasingly realized that in many cases, the greatest single obstacle to agricultural development and progress in Africa is the shortage of trained manpower. It is difficult to think of any major development scheme or project which does not imply a vital need for trained manpower indispensable for its proper implementation. The transition from traditional subsistence agriculture towards a modern and productive market economy is almost wholly dependent upon appropriate education and training if it is to mean anything in practical terms. Thus, it becomes over more clear that investment in the physical resources of agricultural development can achieve very little in the absence of investment in the training and development of the resources of human initiative, skill, and endeavor. Such education and training embraces the whole structure of society, involving not only the production of professional and technical personnel, at different levels and in a wide range of skills, but also the farming community, fishermen, foresters, pastoralists women and rural youth. It is only with the aid of such an integrated approach that the very great pro-bless facing agricultural development and social and economic progress can successfully tackled.