Potential of modernised agriculture to attract youth

©Périg MORISSE via 123RF

Young people account for approximately 24 percent of the working poor, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN. This is particularly pronounced in Africa, where over 70 percent of youth subsist on US$2 per day or less. SACAU has called for a revisiting of agricultural development to enable a mindset shift by all stakeholders towards more transformative approaches to agricultural development which are growth oriented, wealth creation and enterprise development focused.

“Africa is home to the world’s youngest population. There is great potential for economic development by bringing young people into agriculture,” said SACAU capacity development advisor Benito Eliasi.

“Attracting young people is central to tapping into the large reservoir of opportunities which exist in the agricultural sector. Several countries have identified the sector as having the most potential to provide young people with meaningful jobs to reduce poverty,” he added,

“We need to facilitate economic empowerment of the youth through various approaches including competitions, targeted funds, training, attachments, mentorship, partnership and alliances with other stakeholders and profiling successes stories of young agro-entrepreneurs,” said Eliasi. “We need the promotion of a modernised (hi-tech) agricultural development approach to attract youth participation in agriculture,” he added.

In December 2014, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring 15 July as World Youth Skills Day which promotes skills development as a primary means of enabling young people to make a smooth transition to work. The goal is to achieve better socioeconomic conditions for today’s youth as a means of addressing the challenges of unemployment and under-employment.

"Skills development reduces poverty and better equips young people to find decent jobs. It triggers a process of empowerment and self-esteem that benefits everyone,” said UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon at the time of the declaration.