DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2018.v05i12.001

Pages: 624-629

Abstract: Universities and higher education institutes in agriculture usually respond to prepare the main part of specialists, researchers, extension workers, and farmers for agricultural practice. This paper therefore examined Agricultural Practice Competency Need among Final Year Students. Primary data were collected using survey from 150 respondents, sampled through a two-stage random sampling technique. The data analysis employed descriptive statistics while Chi Square was used to examine the differences between the test variables and the generated hypothesis. The result showed that the mean age of the respondents was 22.5. Also, majority (54.7%) of the respondents were females while 57.3% declined to the possibility of pursuing a postgraduate degree in agricultural related courses. “Weed control and fertilization” (MS = 2.39), “Poultry production” (MS = 2.32), “Horticultural practices” (MS = 2.11) were key areas where respondents demonstrated a high level of competence while “Horticultural practices” (MS = 2.61), “Animal breeding” (MS = 2.54), “Plant genetics and breeding” (MS = 2.37), “Food processing” (MS = 2.30), “Pest and disease management” (MS = 2.23) were key areas of competency needs by the respondents. The research found that area of specialization (χ2 = 110.016, p≤ 0.07) and residential area (χ2 = 90.744, p≤ 0.015) have a strong influence in determining the competency needs of students. The study recommends that Government through the necessary stakeholders in university education should organized practical oriented curriculum so as to enable students have competencies in key areas of agriculture.