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In many countries across the world, the number of people engaged in agriculture has continued to decrease. Communities engaged in farming are fewer today. It is due to mass migration from the farming lands to urban areas. It does not matter what number of people migrate to cities. Agriculture will remain the most significant sector in the supply of food and raw materials for food products.
In light of this fact, there must be elaborate ways to develop agricultural research and teaching. Universities are the central pillars for teaching and developing agricultural research. They play an important role in developing students. These students ensure sustainability in the sector.
Why teach and develop agriculture study in universities?
For many years, a lot of studies have been published reporting on the benefits of research in agriculture and its development. They have reported on measures of agricultural productivity, patterns of productivity, and innovation.
Teaching and developing agriculture directly impact the supply and demand models. According to a recent study, agricultural development and research help shift the supply curve downwards while the demand curve remains stable. The result is an increase in production and consumption volume at reduced prices.
Research-induced production helps give producers a surplus in production. It is then sold to earn them more income. Before this knowledge reaches the farmer, the university trains the student. It helps them develop a research mentality in agriculture.
After graduation, they take this knowledge to the farms to help improve product quality and volume. But, this knowledge must continually develop at the university level. It will ensure the latest technology and trends in agriculture. The institution, teacher, and a student has a big role to play.
Agriculture research plays an important role in developing better agricultural studies in the university. It gives students first-hand experience with the latest technologies in the field. As part of learning, many students get busy with creating new types of plants to get a bigger harvest. During their research moments, they don’t have enough time to write essays. So they may ask for help with thesis writing from EduBirdie to not be distracted from their work. This writing service has expert academic writers. They follow strict quality control measures to ensure the papers are quality. Students also get quality support from their experienced 24/7 support team.
The role of universities in agricultural studies development
Universities play a critical role in the teaching of personnel required to work in specialized agricultural organizations. Through the various fields of agricultural studies, universities prepare students who graduate with different types of degrees in agriculture.
The two main areas of agricultural development are technology and research. Universities are the main centers of research. Here, students engage in studies and research. It includes:
- animal health
- diseases
- soil nutrition
- climate
- species
- other types of technologies
The institutions contribute to primary aspects of agriculture like:
- crop improvement
- physiologies of nutrition
- dynamic nutrient procedures.
This happens through the different majors of agriculture.
Development of agricultural studies through writing
Various forms of writing have been developed across several millenniums of human existence. It is believed that writing is the base that promotes language development, learning, and teaching. Without literature, it would be impossible to develop agricultural studies and research.
Institutions of learning encourage writing as a useful learning activity. It prepares students for future career activities. In the area of agriculture teaching and research, institutions assign students different types of papers. They write essays, research papers, term papers, dissertations, and laboratory reports.
There is a broad-based type of writing and discipline-specific writing for agriculture students. Although a student focuses on a specific major, they must gain broad knowledge on what happens in each major. It helps them become more productive in the work field.
The purpose of writing helps students develop an array of skills. But its main purpose is to avail knowledge across the board. The knowledge is availed both to the institutions and the public. Some of the writing focuses on improving teaching and study development.
Some of the suggestions in agriculture writing involve the development of teaching strategies. These enhance better communication and collaboration between students and teachers. These types of writing help both the student and teacher develop better strategies. They transform lecture practices in lecture halls, better assignment topics, teamwork, peer reviews, and feedback.
Writing can improve:
- the curriculum
- information contained in textbooks,
- research strategies
- teaching
- and other broad-based strategies of agricultural development studies.
The knowledge benefits the institutions. At a larger level, it also helps the communities and countries after the students graduate. Future students access enhanced teaching and learning strategies.
Development of agricultural studies through innovation
Currently, every sector depends on innovation for growth and development. In the agricultural sector, innovation doesn’t start in the farms or factories. Rather, it starts in universities. From there, it spreads to:
- the farms
- transportation systems of agricultural produce
- manufacturing
- distribution systems
The university research departments play an important role in innovation. They invest resources into each department. Researchers collaborate with students to innovate new technologies. Students learn from the researchers and teachers. And when they develop new technologies, the researchers and teachers learn from them too. They all climax to enhanced agricultural studies and research.
The main areas of innovation are as follows:
Mobile applications
Mobile apps help improve learning and research. Student-initiated innovative applications can be uploaded with information. It is used by both the teacher and student. It helps make learning easier. It happens through collaborative agricultural studies involving various stakeholders in the teaching institution.
Improving plant/animal varieties
Researchers apply several technologies to develop new plant varieties. It also works on animal varieties and for smart farming strategies. There is artificial intelligence for farming, robots, and drones. Internet of things in agriculture helps connect more devices for better farming practices.
In the classroom, innovation makes teaching and agricultural research better. With these technologies, teachers make teaching more practical. Students interact with the latest technologies in agriculture, which improves their experience.
Several of these technologies have been developed by students. The research laboratories located in universities are the place of innovation. They help develop better agricultural studies. And they can be replicated in the farms to improve crop and animal production. Other areas of innovation are equipment such as laser scarecrows and product testing kits.
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Development of agricultural studies through research
Initially, agricultural research narrowed on the area of improved crop production. Currently, the areas of research have broadened. It covers pests, diseases, control, animal research, manufacturing, etc.
Universities were among the first institutions to establish research departments that focus on agriculture. The kind of research done today is broad-based. It starts from the farms to delivery, manufacturing, storage, and consumption.
This helped establish departments such as microbiology, biochemistry, molecular science. Other departments focus on manufacturing various products. It includes breakfast cereals, fast foods, preservation, and increasing profitability.
The areas of research are wide. And they depend on what the university is majoring in, or the level of funding the school is receiving. Research is necessary for developing better agricultural study strategies.
Engaging students in research gives them a chance to engage in an impractical study on areas that would improve learning. Universities must teach relevant knowledge that can be applied in real life. The teaching methods applied should focus on what is trending in the agricultural sector currently.
This is what will help meet demand in production, it will assist in supply of better products to consumers in the future. Research is a significant part that universities are playing in developing better teaching. It directly impacts research methods in agriculture.
Development of agricultural studies through practice
Practical learning in institutions of higher learning plays an important role. It helps in developing better study methods. When in college, farm attachment is part of the methods used to help students understand their course better.
Farm attachment is work-related, which creates a work-learning environment. It gives students hands-on experience. It exposes them to a different learning scenario away from the classroom. Here, they put into practice their theoretical learning.
Farm attachment enhances professional practice. Through it, the student contributes better to society after graduation. They get first-hand experiences with the latest technologies applied in the farms.
This experience has a direct impact on the way students learn back in the university. They bring new knowledge into the classroom with new styles of study. Some of the farms have research labs and they help students develop deeper knowledge in research.
Developing agricultural studies through the agriculture majors in universities
The agricultural training offered in universities is divided into different branches that students major in. The majors act as the main pillars in teaching and research in agriculture. Without the majors, universities will not effectively play their role in the development of agricultural studies. The following agriculture majors are crucial in this role.
Agronomy
Students who study agronomy learn about plants and soil. Graduates become agronomists, agricultural consultants, Agribusiness managers, and salespeople. The department focuses on the best uses of soil in increasing food production, fuel, and fiber. They help develop initiatives for scientific crop growing development programs.
In many sectors, agronomists gain the title of crop doctors. This is because they help improve productivity through better cultivation techniques. They also use better seed quality, enhanced harvesting techniques, and healthy soils.
This field is continually engaged in research to develop better ways of improving agriculture. Universities involve students in research. The new findings they get improve teaching and further research. It develops better agricultural practices.
Horticulture studies
There is a need to improve diets and increase incomes and it needs higher level of innovation, technology, and information in the agricultural sector. Teaching horticulture in universities helps prepare students. It gives them knowledge that can be applied in different ways.
The knowledge can be used to enhance better seeds. It will help in better germination and crop varieties. They use the knowledge to improve fruit and vegetable production. They gain:
- better pest management skills
- irrigation technology
- knowledge on soil quality
- food safety
- post-harvest practices
There is already available information in horticulture studies. But both the universities and students engage in innovative ways. It improves knowledge and technology useful in improving this sector. Students and teachers work with horticulture farms for practical teaching. They use this knowledge to innovate more. And each generation of students access improved information for better agricultural studies.
Other important agriculture majors in universities that help develop better agricultural studies are:
- organic agriculture
- microbiology
- food science
- animal sciences
- soil science
- dairy science
- agribusiness management
Agriculture teaching and research have resulted in an increase in technology. It has led to increased productivity. There is an entire level of new knowledge that results in enhanced learning strategies. The new technologies impact the learning environment in universities. It has also caused growth in the agriculture sector.
Each agriculture major has a certain level of knowledge it impacts the students. The learners, on the other hand, develop applications, gadgets and discover new cures for plant and animal diseases. The next generation of students finds enhanced knowledge and agricultural teaching strategies. It turns them into modern agriculturalists who can make a difference in society.
Some of the latest technologies being applied in farming are:
- automated farm equipment
- radio frequency identification technology
- real-time kinematics,
- vertical farming
- minichromosomal technology
They have impacted both the farm and the development of teaching methods in agriculture classrooms.
Conclusion
A recent study shows that the number of people engaged in farming across the world is becoming smaller every decade. The younger generations migrate to urban areas to seek better incomes. Currently, the role played by universities in teaching and research in agriculture is essential. It is important for reviving the sector. The institutions help develop agricultural studies. It happens through writing, research, innovation, farm attachments, and specialization. Involving both the teacher and student is helping catalyze the process. This builds a broader knowledge base for research.
Author’s Bio
Angela Boggs works for an AI company and is part of the team that develops content writing and editing software. Her experience in web content and academic writing ensure great success for her. In her free time, she enjoys fly-fishing, cycling and listening to pop music.
