Gap Analysis of Higher Agricultural Education Competencies among the Students for Industrial and Farmers’ Needs

Abstract

The study was conducted to outline competencies relevant to the need of farmers and industries present in an agriculture graduate for carrying out their assigned duties. As inferred by mean score of the desired status, the managerial competency was identified to be the most needed one among the agricultural graduates as perceived by the students followed by entrepreneurial, extension skills, technical, market/understanding government policy, communication/ICT and personal competency. The findings of the study will aid higher education planners in India to develop curriculum to prepare and train future agricultural graduates to educate, inform and entertain farmers in an efficient way and fulfil the requirements of the job as required by the industries in an agriculture graduates. Specifically, the research sought to determine students and farmers perceptions of essential competencies needed by agri-graduates enrolled in the agriculture curriculum. The study provides for an initial attempt to gain insight into how higher agricultural education institutions can revitalize their curricula to better prepare their students for the market place and to keep pace with the changing nature of the environment around them.