A new bill known as The Agricultural Professionals Registration & Licensing Bill, 2024 is under consideration in the National Assembly. This legislation aims to establish comprehensive regulations for professionals working in the agricultural sector.
According to the bill, individuals are restricted from engaging in private practice as agricultural professionals unless they are registered by the proposed Agricultural Professionals Registration & Licensing Board. Furthermore, applicants seeking registration and licensing must accompany their applications with the prescribed annual fee. Additionally, the bill specifies that the practicing certificate issued by the board will expire on the last day of December in the year it was issued.
The bill defines an “agricultural professional” as someone who holds a degree, diploma, or certificate in various agricultural specialties from an institution recognized by the board. These specialties include crop production, horticulture, plant breeding, seed technology, agronomy, botany, crop science, food science, agricultural economics, agribusiness, floriculture, biotechnology, soil & water engineering, and agro-forestry.
Moreover, “private practice” is defined as any individual who practices as an agricultural professional on their own account, receiving the full amount of fees and charges. It also encompasses those who engage in partnerships with others and are entitled to a share of the profits or losses incurred.
The bill aims to establish a regulatory framework to ensure professionalism and maintain quality standards within the agricultural sector. It also seeks to safeguard the interests of both professionals and consumers alike.