Perceptions of Undergraduate Students to Practical Agriculture Experience at the University of Fort Hare, South Africa

The study examined perceptions of final year students of agriculture at the University of Fort Hare to practical agricultural experience. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to obtain data from 334 students. Only 278 were analysed, using simple and inferential statistics. The study reveals th...

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Main Authors: Shehu Folarin Gbolahan Yusuf, Oluwaseun Oluwabunmi Sopein, Nathaniel Siji Olutegbe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria 2019-01-01
Series:Journal of Agricultural Extension
Online Access:https://www.aesonnigeria.org/ajm/index.php/jae/article/view/1645
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author Shehu Folarin Gbolahan Yusuf
Oluwaseun Oluwabunmi Sopein
Nathaniel Siji Olutegbe
author_facet Shehu Folarin Gbolahan Yusuf
Oluwaseun Oluwabunmi Sopein
Nathaniel Siji Olutegbe
author_sort Shehu Folarin Gbolahan Yusuf
collection DOAJ
description The study examined perceptions of final year students of agriculture at the University of Fort Hare to practical agricultural experience. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to obtain data from 334 students. Only 278 were analysed, using simple and inferential statistics. The study reveals that more than half (55.0%) had favourable perceptions of practical agriculture experience (PAE). However, only about half (51.1%) expressed a high level of satisfaction. The majority (61.9%) were in favour of on-the-farm internships rather than ‘talk shops’.  There was a significant relationship between respondents’ perceptions regarding improved performance (r = 0.276), general disposition to PAE (r = 0.438) and overall satisfaction with the PAE programme. Based on its findings, this study has implications for the evaluation process of the programme and suggests that the design of the PAE should center around on-farm activities based on a specific number of weeks for internships on commercial farms. This will provide the real-life experiential learning that could stimulate students to venture into practical farming post graduation.
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spelling doaj.art-7cad1a0417ac4634b70b1a90cb4686862022-12-22T04:23:19ZengAgricultural Extension Society of NigeriaJournal of Agricultural Extension1119-944X2408-68512019-01-01231Perceptions of Undergraduate Students to Practical Agriculture Experience at the University of Fort Hare, South AfricaShehu Folarin Gbolahan Yusuf0Oluwaseun Oluwabunmi Sopein1Nathaniel Siji Olutegbe2Dept. of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Fort Hare, Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa.Dept. of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Fort Hare, Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa.Dept of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ibadan Nigeria The study examined perceptions of final year students of agriculture at the University of Fort Hare to practical agricultural experience. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to obtain data from 334 students. Only 278 were analysed, using simple and inferential statistics. The study reveals that more than half (55.0%) had favourable perceptions of practical agriculture experience (PAE). However, only about half (51.1%) expressed a high level of satisfaction. The majority (61.9%) were in favour of on-the-farm internships rather than ‘talk shops’.  There was a significant relationship between respondents’ perceptions regarding improved performance (r = 0.276), general disposition to PAE (r = 0.438) and overall satisfaction with the PAE programme. Based on its findings, this study has implications for the evaluation process of the programme and suggests that the design of the PAE should center around on-farm activities based on a specific number of weeks for internships on commercial farms. This will provide the real-life experiential learning that could stimulate students to venture into practical farming post graduation. https://www.aesonnigeria.org/ajm/index.php/jae/article/view/1645
spellingShingle Shehu Folarin Gbolahan Yusuf
Oluwaseun Oluwabunmi Sopein
Nathaniel Siji Olutegbe
Perceptions of Undergraduate Students to Practical Agriculture Experience at the University of Fort Hare, South Africa
Journal of Agricultural Extension
title Perceptions of Undergraduate Students to Practical Agriculture Experience at the University of Fort Hare, South Africa
title_full Perceptions of Undergraduate Students to Practical Agriculture Experience at the University of Fort Hare, South Africa
title_fullStr Perceptions of Undergraduate Students to Practical Agriculture Experience at the University of Fort Hare, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Perceptions of Undergraduate Students to Practical Agriculture Experience at the University of Fort Hare, South Africa
title_short Perceptions of Undergraduate Students to Practical Agriculture Experience at the University of Fort Hare, South Africa
title_sort perceptions of undergraduate students to practical agriculture experience at the university of fort hare south africa
url https://www.aesonnigeria.org/ajm/index.php/jae/article/view/1645
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