What this life looks like
You are the scientist who feeds Africa. Agronomists study crops and soils to help farmers grow more food, more reliably, with fewer resources. Agriculture employs over 60% of Africa's workforce and feeds over a billion people — yet the continent still faces food insecurity driven by low yields, soil degradation, and climate change. Agronomists who can close Africa's yield gap are among the most urgently needed scientists on the continent.
What she actually does
You conduct field experiments to test crop varieties and farming practices, analyse soil conditions and recommend fertiliser and amendment programmes, advise farmers on planting schedules, pest and disease management, irrigation, and post-harvest handling, collect and analyse data to evaluate which practices produce the best yields, and communicate findings to farmers, agricultural extension officers, and research institutions.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Research | IITA (Ibadan), CIMMYT Africa, ICRISAT (Niamey/Nairobi), National agricultural research systems (NARS) across Africa |
| Government | Ministries of Agriculture in all African countries — national agronomy advisory services |
| Input Companies | Syngenta Africa, BASF Africa, Corteva Agriscience Africa — agrochemical and seed companies employ agronomists |
| Development Orgs | Alliance of Bioversity & CIAT, FAO Africa, IFAD, Agri-input programmes by Mastercard Foundation |
Why it matters in Africa
Africa produces only a fraction of the food it is capable of producing — African wheat yields average less than 20% of those achieved on comparable land in Europe. Closing this gap through improved agronomy could feed hundreds of millions and generate enormous economic value. Climate adaptation — helping farmers shift varieties and practices as rainfall patterns change — makes agronomists even more critical over the coming decades.
Your pathway in
- Study Agriculture, Agronomy, or Plant Sciences at university
- Develop strong field skills alongside laboratory knowledge — agronomists must be comfortable working on farms in all conditions
- Consider postgraduate study or a research attachment at IITA, CIMMYT, or ICRAF — international agricultural research centres with major African operations
- Gain experience working with smallholder farmers — understanding farming systems at the grassroots level is as important as scientific knowledge
- Connect with the African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE) and national agricultural research institutes
Skills you will need
- Crop physiology and soil science
- Field experimental design
- Data collection and analysis
- Farmer advisory skills
- Report writing
- Climate-smart agriculture knowledge
A woman in this field
Prof. Mary Abukutsa-Onyango
Kenya
Mary is a world-renowned Kenyan agronomist, and plant physiologist who is a pioneer in the research of African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs). She is a Professor of Horticulture at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). Her life's work focuses on combating malnutrition and food insecurity in East Africa by optimizing the agronomy, seed production, and nutritional yield of indigenous African crops (such as amaranth, African nightshade, and spiderplant). Her research helps smallholder farmers cultivate resilient, climate-smart food systems that provide a secure stream of revenue even during unpredictable weather patterns.
Take your first step
- Visit a farm and spend time observing how crops are grown — understanding farming from the farmer's perspective is essential groundwork for any agronomist
- Research IITA at iita.org and ICRISAT at icrisat.org — they are the two largest international agricultural research centres in Africa and both run training and internship programmes
- Study the difference between subsistence farming and commercial farming in your country — agronomists need to understand both contexts
- Complete the free online course 'Sustainable Agricultural Land Management' from the University of Florida on Coursera — it provides excellent agronomic foundations