Exotic stronghold: Africans began to study agriculture in Russia en masse

Africans have increased their interest in studying agriculture in Russian universities, Rossorrudnichestvo told Izvestia. Over the past five years, the number of applications in African countries for admission to Russian universities in the field of agriculture has increased fivefold, they noted.

Today, more than 1.6 thousand citizens from 45 African countries study in educational institutions subordinate to the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia, the agency told Izvestia. Most of the students represent Cameroon, Mali, Algeria, and Egypt. The Ministry named agronomy, veterinary medicine, and agroengineering among the most sought-after areas of training.

"It is worth noting that for the next 2025/2026 academic year, 207 government quotas have been allocated for representatives of the African continent, whereas in the 2024/2025 academic year there were 120," the Ministry of Agriculture emphasized.

The Ministry of Agriculture assessed Russia's cooperation with African countries in the agro-industrial sector as steadily developing.

— The volume of mutual trade is steadily growing. Our country remains the largest supplier of food to Africa, exporting grain, fat and oil, meat and other products to the continent, the Ministry of Agriculture emphasized. — Today, almost half of the total volume of domestic wheat accounts for the markets of African countries.

At the same time, Russia is ready to increase exports of agricultural technologies so that African countries can ensure their own food security, the ministry assured.

"Cooperation in the field of genetics and breeding, the supply of veterinary medicines, plant protection products, agricultural machinery and fertilizers has significant potential," the ministry said.

For example, the supply of mineral fertilizers to African countries has more than doubled over the past five years.

Economic relations with African countries are currently developing very actively, added Fyodor Sidorov, a private investor and founder of the School of Practical Investment. Many African States are expanding cooperation in various fields, including trade, investment, and the energy sector. Now, joint efforts are aimed at strengthening mutually beneficial relations.

How Russian universities attract students from Africa

African applicants are attracted by the quality of agricultural education in Russia, says Tatyana Polutina, Vice-rector for International Policy at Kuban State Agrarian University.

— New laboratories and experimental sites are constantly appearing. Our agricultural departments conduct training in close cooperation with businesses, so they are very practice—oriented," she explained.

In addition, according to her, there are many graduates of Russian universities from the Soviet and post-Soviet periods working in the agricultural system of African countries.

— Thus, they confirm the high level of educational services and the system as a whole, — she is sure.

According to the vice-rector, students from more than 20 African countries are currently studying at KubGAU.

— Graduates of recent years present the quality of our education in their states and cities. Thanks to this approach, as well as close cooperation with the representative offices of Rossotrudnichestvo in Africa and with the agricultural business, interest is increasing and the number of foreign applicants is growing," emphasized Tatiana Polutina.

She cited the appearance of Russian agricultural attaches in Africa, representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, as another reason for the growing interest in Russian education.

— The University is currently establishing cooperation with them in order to form a conglomerate of our agricultural educational institution, with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture and participants in the agricultural markets of the African continent. This will allow for more targeted staff training and establish a system of targeted specialist training," the Vice—rector emphasized.

Studying in Krasnodar attracts students from Africa also because of the similarity of the climate, says Alexander Makarenko, Dean of the Faculty of Agronomy and Ecology at KubGAU.

— Most of the crops that are cultivated in their homeland are also grown here: corn, sorghum, legumes, rice, and so on. Secondly, we have practice-oriented training. Students have the opportunity not only to gain theoretical knowledge, but also to consolidate it in practice. Students regularly visit industry enterprises, research institutes, and practice in educational and experimental farms," he assured.

Why do students from Africa choose Russia

The population of the African continent is growing rapidly, with a significant percentage of young people, which explains the large demand for education, Louis Gouend, president of the African Business Club and the Diaspora of Cameroon in Russia, explained to Izvestia.

"Ensuring food security is one of the key tasks of each country in order to develop other sectors of the economy," he said. — Unfortunately, despite the large amount of fertile land in Africa, there are still problems with the fact that agriculture is at a low level. We lack the technology, knowledge, and technology to take it to a new level.

The combination of these factors, according to him, generates a great demand for education in the field of agriculture.

— Russia has recently become one of the most powerful countries in terms of agricultural development. It is actively increasing grain exports. This shows that there is knowledge and technology here to develop this crucial industry," he assured.

In addition, Russia's reputation in Africa also plays a role, Louis Gowend added.

"Russia now has an amazingly good image in the eyes of Africans, especially among the younger population,— he said.

Russian education attracts African students due to a combination of affordable cost and high level of teaching, Sergey Karamaev, a researcher at the Center for Development and Modernization Problems at the IMEMO RAS, confirmed to Izvestia.

"Compared to other countries, studying at Russian universities is cheaper, and the quality of training is considered very good," he stressed.

The expert added that the personal experience of students, which is distributed through the so-called "oral telegraph", also plays a serious role. Young people come to Russia, get a visa, but to extend the document they need to return home during the holidays. When they return, they share their impressions of the country, their living conditions, and their studies. Positive reviews generate interest in studying in Russia among their compatriots.

— I can tell you about the example of Zimbabwe. After the first year of study, students return home and warmly talk about the Russian experience. They are attracted not only by the level of education, but also by the favorable attitude of society. They note the absence of systemic racism," said Sergey Karamaev.

According to him, African students prefer applied specialties. In addition to agriculture, medicine, engineering, construction, mechanical engineering, and the oil and gas industry are popular. They make an informed choice, realizing that upon returning to their homeland they will be able to apply their knowledge in their profession, the specialist concluded.