Chemistry Education and Enhancement of Agricultural Production: Implications for Food Security in Nigeria (Published)
This paper discussed the indispensible role of Chemistry Education in agricultural production and food security in the context of economic realities in Nigeria. Nigeria is faced with food crisis as a result of internal problems of insecurity, political conflicts, poor youth orientation, and dwindling national economy among others. The price of staple foodstuff such as rice, garri, maize, wheat are beyond the average Nigerians. The imbalance between agricultural food supply and food intake has forced the growing population to increasingly become dependent on imported foods. The challenges of food security demands effective application of Chemistry Education to change students’ orientation and mind-set towards applying the scientific knowledge and skills acquired to agricultural production and other agricultural businesses. The situation calls for a real exploit of the scientific knowledge via crop improvement; smarter use of agro chemicals like fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and effective management to ensure increased productivity and food security. Chemistry Education constitutes an excellent tool to catalyse the development of the necessary know-how, creative skills and attitudes among youths for enhancement of agricultural productivity. The onus of this paper therefore, lies in the identification and support processes and linkages that promote technological and attitudinal change towards agricultural production as well as the implications of using Chemistry Education to attain food security in Nigeria.
Keywords: Agricultural Production, Chemistry Education, Enhancement, Food Security, Scientific knowledge