Agricultural engineers play vital roles to ensure food security.This has brought to the fore the dearth of this group of professionals in the sector. There is, therefore, the need, to engage and train more agricultural engineers to fill the burgeoning gap in the industry, writes DANIEL ESSIET.
THere is increasing demand for agricultural engineers in the sector. Against the backdrop of the push for modern and mechanised farming to ensure adequate food supplies, the dearth of these important professionals in the value chain has been brought to the fore. The nation cannot talk of food security without the engineers who work on various areas of the sector, spanning production, processing, packaging, land use, equipment construction and maintenance, seed improvement, biofuel development and many others.
An agricultural engineer, depending on specialisation, is involved in the production and processing of food commodities for national and international markets. He adds value to seeds for the production goods for exports, ensuring that they meet international standards. To achieve optimal performance, farmers acquire purpose-built machines which can only be maintained by an expert. These equipment are used for canning, freezing and drying. Running these machines to attain the desired efficiencies requires the competencies of agricultural engineers. Beyond this, they analyse operations, new technologies and methods to increase yields, improve land use, and conserve resources, such as seed, water, fertilisers, pesticides, fuel and the likes.
Speaking with The Nation, the Director General/Chief Executive, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), Dr Gloria Elemo, said more agricultural engineers are needed to help farmers adopt new farming practices and equipment to combat the looming food insecurity.
According to her, with their expertise, agricultural engineers reduce crop loss from field damage, during handling, sorting, packing and processing. They also prepare the land for planting — soil engineer – and implements for harvesting to avoid loss of produce.
She said they are a vital part of the food industry. Some work for processing companies to develop efficient processes for better products.
At FIIRO, she said agricultural engineers are employed in research and development unit. The institute, she said, however, prefers Ph. D holders who are expected to provide solutions to a variety of problems through research. Most of them, she said, work outdoors, at times, visiting farms and rural areas, but the bulk of their work is in the laboratories doing research.
She said there are five major areas of specialisation: farm structures, mechanical power, electrification, soil and water conservation, and food engineering. She urged more candidates to take up courses in those areas to bridge the growing demand for agric engineers.
Elemo noted that many universities, colleges of agriculture and polytechnics have established agricultural engineering programmes.
The universities run a Bachelor of Science programme in agricultural engineering of five academic sessions during which the students are exposed to industrial training over a 12-month period. The training period is broken into three parts of three, three and six months. The first industrial attachment is undertaken during the vacation period at the end of the second year. The second training comes during the vacation period at the end of the third year, while the last one is for six months which starts at the beginning of the second semester of the fourth year and lasts till the beginning of the following academic session when the students return to school for their final year work. She, however, noted that agricultural engineering curriculum needs to be reviewed to expand the entrepreneurial potential of agricultural engineering graduates.
Speaking with The Nation, the Managing Director, Alvan Blanch, a British manufacturing and project engineering firm, Andrew Blanch, said the agricultural engineer is at the heart of farming. According to him, farmers need the support of a sophisticated engineering industry to produce the machines and equipment they need to guarantee the crops and livestock they grow to reach the high quality standards they must achieve to get top market prices. Also, he said farm machinery and equipment manufacturers require engineers of the highest calibre with the right skills to deal with structures, mechanisms, control systems, hydraulics and electronics, as well as having an interest and appreciation of farming systems and other relevant industry sectors.
He said the design and operation of manufacturing systems used in the agricultural industry must rely on sound engineering principles.To this end, he said his company looks for engineers who specialise in design, production and supply of quality machines and integrated systems processing of agricultural produce and waste materials. Blanch’s company has developed systems for food processing, such as drying processes, distillation, or long term storage. The job requires visits to farms, working directly with growers, and servicing a wide variety of industries, including crops and livestock as well as manufacturing concerns and governments.
Many tasks of an agricultural engineer are completed outdoors, but there is office work, too. During the day, he dedicates time to designing projects, such as helping to plan a new type of grain silo, improving existing models of threshing equipment, or creating a new method of grain harvesting. There are agricultural engineers who design animal housing units, or might work on bettering a slaughter-house to make it a more hygienic environment. Others test soil for chemicals, improve waste disposal and monitor water quality to make sure natural resources are protected and not exploited. Some agricultural engineers work in universities, educating newcomers to the field, while others write for farming publications. There are more chances for agricultural engineers to travel to other countries where they can help give advice on farming practices and showcase their equipment.
Many agricultural practitioners choose to earn a professional engineers license. Although it’s not necessary, being licensed assures competencies and expands opportunities for advancement.
The Nigerian agriculture sector, Blanch said, offers good opportunities for engineers, adding that the current system of training agricultural engineers, is inadequate for the sector’s potential for revenue creation or for the development of skills.
He stressed the need for better co-ordination between agricultural engineering education and work. Many graduates of agriculture engineering have not even seen, or get acquainted with field machines or equipment before, or during their practical training.
One of the more important technological advances in agricultural engineering has occurred in the use of applied enzymes. Agricultural engineers use applied enzymes to make healthier food products.
For watchers, however, there are positive trends that are creating job opportunities for agricultural engineers.
Many states are working toward increased agricultural mechanisation and demand is for the latest technologies and innovations that improve operating efficiencies.
