Integrating climate change issues into agricultural education teaching and learning in Nigeria

¹Orusha, J.O., ²Alukogu, C.T., ³Chikaire, J., ¹Onogu, B., ¹Nwaigwe, M.O., ¹Ohuaka, P. and ¹Tim-Ashama, A.

¹Department of Agricultural Science, Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, Imo State.

²Olivet Heights Secondary School, Portharcourt, Rivers State.

³Department of Agricultural Extension, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: Email: bankausta@yahoo.com

Accepted 22 May, 2012

Abstract

Many of today’s major challenges - energy security, national security, human health, and climate change are all closely related to the global food and agriculture enterprise. Academic institutions with programmes in agriculture are in a perfect position to foster the next generation of leaders and professionals needed to address these challenges. This means that good agricultural education should provide solutions to development challenges. There is a strong positive correlation between levels of education and economic development in any given country. Climate change, is adversely affecting practically all economic, social, political, and educational sectors. Africa is projected to have a future associated with scarce water, declining agricultural yields, desertification, drought and other serious problems. The agricultural work force must constantly respond to these changes through a well thought-out and comprehensive school curriculum to address the above situations. Agriculture therefore must adapt to a continually changing landscape of health and nutrition issues, consumer preferences, environmental impacts and many other factors. Because agriculture is affected by so many factors, its participants must always be prepared to react, to adapt, and to think ahead. Integrating climate change issues in our agricultural education curricula becomes imperative knowing that African countries, especially Nigeria are at risk. Therefore, to make agriculture increase yield and reduce food crisis, climate change issues must be included in agriculture education programme –from primary to tertiary levels. This paper thus suggests what topics to be included and taught in our schools and also proposed steps to transform agriculture education generally.

Keywords: Climate change, agricultural education, curriculum, teaching, environment.