mmg.com.au

Dwindling enrolments in agricultural education courses across Victorian universities must be urgently addressed, Federal Member for Murray Sharman Stone believes.

Dr Stone said there were only 20 students at University of Melbourne’s Dookie Campus finishing their Bachelor of Agriculture this year and there were only 55 new enrolments this year.

‘‘La Trobe University only saw 42 new enrolments in their Bachelor of Agricultural Science course for 2012. This is lower than the average of 46 for the past three years.

‘‘The drought years, poorer prices forced on suppliers by Coles and Woolworths, and the media’s negative portrayal of agriculture have contributed to this decline,’’ Dr Stone said.

‘‘Fewer than 700 agricultural graduates are expected to graduate in 2012 nationwide.

‘‘This is a huge shortfall given the 4000 agri-related tertiary-level jobs available each year.

‘‘We recently saw the agriculture and food exports out of Victorian ports set a record, with earnings surging to $8.1billion for the last financial year.

‘‘With the increased global demand for food production and food security, we should be building agricultural skills.

‘‘Cash-strapped universities say courses are being axed as student demand declines. The University of Western Sydney cancelled its agriculture course at the Hawkesbury campus after less than 10 students enrolled.

‘‘Promotion of agriculture and its career opportunities must take place in high schools when students are getting ready to transition to university,’’ Dr Stone said.

‘‘Both the state and federal governments need to urgently respond to provide a solution.’’