Fewer study agriculture

Numbers studying agriculture at schools are dropping drastically, and the Post Primary Teachers' Association is endorsing calls by the primary production select committee for the Government to combat the problem.

The committee said agriculture was scarcely mentioned in the school curriculum, and while it could be studied at Levels 1, 2 and 3, it was offered in less than half of secondary schools.

Between 2003 and 2007 the number studying agriculture at secondary school dropped nearly 14 per cent, from 11,734 to 10,107.

The number of people teaching agriculture has also dropped.