Urbanisation, Cognitive Development and Farmer Learning

Effective farm management requires well developed cognitive (thinking) skills normally gained through certain urbanising processes and upper secondary and tertiary training. Trainers of young farmers must design courses to develop these skills. Farmers who have learnt farming by farming are at a serious disadvantage unless new learning can be gained in an non-threatening environment. On-farm trained farmers have indicated the lecture model is inappropriate, and providers of training must understand farmers better in order to communicate new systems, techniques and skills effectively. At a time when more highly skilled farm managers are needed, the average age of farmers is on the rise, and young people are hesitant to embark on a farming career. The gap continues to grow and widespread, effective farmer training is now required on an unprecedented scale.