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The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) is launching a new scholarship scheme to encourage more British students from ethnic minorities to enter the farming sector.
The RAU, one of the leading agricultural institutions in the UK, hopes the two undergraduate scholarships will increase diversity and equality in the industry – which is predominately made up of white workers.
Analysis by Sky News has found that 97.2% of workers in agricultural, forestry and fishing are white, excluding seasonal workers, making it the least diverse job sector in the country.
Dan Todhunter, director of academic services at the RAU, told Sky News increasing diversity in education could reduce barriers.
He said: “We definitely think there needs to be space for everyone to play a part in agriculture in the land-based sector.
“If we can educate more people, train more people from a broader range of backgrounds, then they’ll be more people available in the future who’ve got the skills and qualifications and interests to make a difference in that sector and jobs.
“It’s about reducing barriers, that might be financial barriers as well, to bring students into the RAU.
“I think we also know, let’s be realistic, that the land-based sector is a rural sector, and we also know nationally that ethnic minorities are more often in urban areas and that also plays a big role.”
There are some obvious reasons why farming is predominantly white.
Firstly, rural parts of the country are far less diverse.
Secondly, many farms tend to have been handed down through generations.
But there are some who believe that more should be done to ensure those from ethnic minorities view farming as an accessible job.
‘We need to break the mould’
Ped Asgarian, from the organisation Feeding Bristol, said: “We do need to break the mould of it being ultimately an old white man and a tractor working the field and…
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Source : skynews
