One observation and a suggestion.
Observation is that in most cases that I have seen agricultural education (for farmers' sons/rural youth or whatever) generally only helps to unstick youngsters from the land and off into the wide world. It is sufficient for them to get a certificate showing that they have been trained in tractor maintenance for them to have a chance of finding a job as a mechanic. The certificates given at the end of such courses are therefore all too often their passport to the city.
Suggestion derives from an experience many years ago when I came acros a youngster of 19 operating a County twin engine in tandem, 4-wheel drive tractor, as a contractor. It was impressive to see such a youngster in charge of such a relatively large piece of equipment. He had the equipment on hire-purchase agreement, presumably with the agreement guaranteed by his parents.
This is a model that I have often thought ideal for employment of rural youth. I have come across similar arrangements in Thailand with paddy threshing machines on the back of pick-ups. It has several important advantages:
- Youngsters have plenty of energy and are likely to use machinery for longer hours and therefore with greater efficiency.
- It provides an "attractive" job - i.e. with a certain prestige - not like cultivating ground with a hoe.
- It provides cultivation or other services to farmers at a fair price.
- It can provide a link with training and a career for the younster.
- It can provide a very good supplementary income to a young farmer.
- The hire-purchase agreement can be tied to or guaranteed by the training institute (if they are brave enough!!)
السيد John Weatherhogg