Navigating the Terrain of Agricultural Education in Africa: Current State, Gaps, and Future Directions

Remeredzayi Gudyanga, Glen Legodu

Abstract


With Agriculture being the major economic activity on the African continent, Agricultural Education Research (AER) should be an important priority for Africa’s young population with its abundant largely fertile land resources. There is a scarcity of research on AER that unpacks trends, challenges and opportunities especially in a changing global space. This mixed methods bibliometric study examines AER in Africa. Using an appropriate search string, and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), a dataset of 265 research outputs was extracted and then analysed using VOSviewer. While annual research outputs have increased between 2004 and 2024, they remain low compared to other disciplines. A significant portion of research is funded by external organisations, underscoring a reliance on international support. The analysis highlights a small group of prolific African authors contributing to the field, though inter-African collaboration is weak. Instead, there is significant collaboration with researchers from the United States, reflecting the global nature of AER partnerships. Research outputs are highly concentrated in a few countries, notably South Africa, Egypt, and Kenya, while several African nations register no publications, revealing marked disparities across the continent. Author keyword analysis indicates a strong focus on themes such as curriculum development, food security, sustainability, and climate change, issues critical to the continent’s agricultural and educational development. The findings emphasize the need for greater intra-African collaboration, more equitable research contributions, and increased investment in locally driven research. Policy makers could increase local funding in research directed towards integrating technological innovations in agricultural education and research.

https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.24.1.4


Keywords


agricultural education; bibliometrics; research trends; research metrics; research outputs

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References


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