Africa currently spends a staggering $78 billion of scarce foreign currency on food imports each year. Some countries, such as Zimbabwe, Guinea, and Sudan, exceed 100 per cent of their annual foreign currency receipts on food imports. There is an increasing realisation that much of this food could be produced locally on the continent, creating employment and opportunities for African youths.
One unique aspect of Africa’s demographic profile is its large youth population, which could be the key to ensuring the continent’s food security. While most of the world’s food is produced by ageing smallholder farmers, older farmers are less likely to adopt the new technologies needed to sustainably increase agricultural productivity and feed the growing world population while protecting the environment.
Therefore, it is important to involve youth in agriculture. Not only involve them, but empower them with the right technological tools and resources to improve productivity, sustainability, and profitability. This article will explore various Agritech empowerment initiatives specifically designed to support young farmers in Africa, highlighting their benefits and potential impact on the agricultural industry.
Unique Challenges Faced by Young Farmers in Africa
The agricultural sector in Africa presents a range of complex and interconnected challenges for young people. Some of the unique obstacles that African youth in agriculture face include:
1. Limited Access to Technology
Infrastructural challenges, such as lack of internet connectivity and electricity, hinder the use of tech solutions by youth in Africa. Rural farming communities in most African countries lack access to roads, water, electricity, schools, and internet connectivity. This lack of social amenities contributes to a high rate of illiteracy making it hard for youths to grasp Agritech practices contributing to the country’s underdevelopment in science and technology.
2. Financial Constraints
Many financial service providers are hesitant to offer their services, including credit, savings, and insurance, to rural youth due to their lack of collateral and financial literacy. Even though financial services have become more available to poor farmers, there is still a need to improve access for young people in agricultural and rural enterprises. Laws and regulations in many countries exclude people under 18 from accessing financial products and services, and few products are tailored to meet the unique needs of youth.
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3. Limited Access to Land
Access to land is crucial for starting a farm, but it is often difficult for young people to attain. In many developing countries, inheritance laws and customs make it challenging for young women to secure land. Women typically hold smaller plots of land than men, and women’s access to land is further limited by social norms and traditions. Young men also face challenges in accessing land, as they often have to wait many years before inheriting their share of family land. In some cultures, it is taboo for young people to access family land while their parents are still alive. These challenges are compounded for young women, as they may lack the knowledge, financial resources, and confidence to protest against social norms and traditions to enforce formal laws granting them equal land rights.
4. Inadequate Agricultural Education and Training
Another challenge is the limited access of young people to knowledge, information, and education. Poor quality education hinders productivity and skill development, while limited access to knowledge and information can impede the establishment of entrepreneurial initiatives. Particularly in developing nations, there is a specific requirement to enhance the educational opportunities for young farmers and to integrate agricultural skills into rural education more broadly.
Agritech Empowerment Initiatives for Young Farmers in Africa
Africa’s youth population is predicted to grow by 42% by 2030. With the large proportion of young people, there is also a job concern. According to the World Bank, youth unemployment in Africa accounts for 60% of the jobless. Agriculture and agribusiness can assist in solving this employment problem.
Agriculture should be promoted and made attractive to encourage more African youths to enter the industry, especially because Africa has fertile land for farming. To encourage youths to get more involved in agriculture, here are some Agritech empowerment initiatives that the African government and relevant stakeholders can take:
1. Training Programs for Agriculture
Offering practical education and training on the latest agricultural technologies is crucial. Many young farmers lack the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively manage a farm or agricultural business. Even those with higher education in agriculture often lack practical hands-on experience with technology. To make agriculture more appealing, it is essential to provide training for young individuals who miss out on opportunities due to their lack of agricultural skills. Additionally, it is important to integrate agricultural and entrepreneurial training as a mandatory subject in both secondary and tertiary education. Governments and educational institutions should make deliberate efforts to incorporate agricultural training into the current curriculum.
2. Financial Support
Many young farmers in Africa face financial constraints when entering agriculture. While access to land is an issue, family-owned land in rural communities makes land ownership less of a problem for them. However, the lack of funds to purchase tools and materials needed for agriculture poses a significant challenge.
To make agriculture more viable for the younger generation, financial assistance is essential. Since most financial institutions consider young individuals with little collateral as high-risk, governments and development institutions should provide zero-interest loans with minimal collateral requirements. African governments should establish funding programs for youths entering agriculture, possibly in the form of small loans disbursed through financial institutions. Governments should also raise awareness about these funding programs through media campaigns to encourage young people to apply.
Furthermore, leaders should minimise barriers to accessing funds. If a young person is denied funding for any reason, they should not be left empty-handed but instead receive agricultural training to enhance their skills and be better prepared to receive funding in the future.
3. Empowerment of Young Individuals to Voice Their Concerns
To encourage young people to actively participate in agriculture, national agricultural and food security policies should address the specific issues that affect them. This means that young individuals should be involved in policy discussions at both local and national levels, whether through local development meetings, advisory groups, or boards and committees. The Young Professionals’ Platform for Agricultural Research for Development (YPARD) is a good example of a way to involve youths in policy making. The platform aims to provide a platform for young individuals to explore opportunities in agricultural development, share experiences, and advocate for increased youth engagement and representation.
4. Enhancing the Image of Agriculture
Agriculture is often not depicted in the media as a pursuit for young people and is sometimes viewed as outdated, unprofitable, and arduous. It is crucial to raise awareness about the benefits of agriculture as a career, particularly in terms of opportunities for increased market engagement, innovation, and agricultural entrepreneurship among young individuals. Various media channels, ICT, and social media can be utilised to enhance the image of agriculture and facilitate the exchange of information and experiences between young people and farmers.
Strengthening agricultural higher education is also essential. Relatively few students opt for agricultural studies, possibly due in part to the varied quality of agricultural training. Course materials should be aligned with technological advancements, encourage innovation, and be more relevant to a diverse and evolving agricultural sector, with a focus on agribusiness and entrepreneurship.
5. Public-Private Partnerships
It is essential to cultivate partnerships between governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and private sector companies to promote technology adoption in agriculture. Governments must create an enabling environment with incentives to motivate young individuals to engage in agricultural activities. Training programs, internships, and apprenticeships are crucial in equipping the next generation with the skills to harness technology and boost productivity.
NGOs bring expertise in sustainable farming practices, community engagement, and resource mobilisation, making them indispensable partners. By collaborating with governments, NGOs can amplify impact, leverage resources, and foster knowledge sharing. The private sector also plays a vital role by bringing investment, technology, and market access to the table. Collaborations between companies and governments can yield training and capacity-building programs, subsidies, and incentives to empower young farmers.
Agritech Empowerment Success Stories and Case Studies in Africa
Here are three success stories of Agritech empowerment initiatives for young farmers in Africa:
1. Digital Agriculture in Rwanda with FAO
Since 2017, the FAO has collaborated with Rwanda’s government to promote digital agriculture and train young farmers. One of the initiative recipients is Daniel Nshimiyimana.
Daniel was trained in using apps such as “Cure and Feed your Livestock,” “e-Nutrifood,” “Weather and Crop Calendar,” and “AgriMarketplace,” This gave Daniel access to production techniques, weather forecasts, and direct market access.
In an interview with Yenkasa Facilitating Dialogue Africa, Daniel stated, “This technology gives me all the information I need in my farming. First, on production, how I can better produce, and secondly, how I can access the market freely without intermediaries who used to affect prices negatively. Lastly, technology helps build a strong network with my fellow farmers for peer education. I encourage every farmer to leverage these FAO applications.”
These applications have empowered farmers to make informed decisions, enhancing productivity and profitability.
2. Tech Young Farmers’ Club in Nigeria by SAHE Foundation
The SAHE Foundation, alongside the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), launched the “Tech Young Farmers’ Club” to teach hands-on agricultural education to secondary school students in Lagos, Nigeria. This initiative aims to modernise perceptions of agriculture and empower over 1,000 young participants with agricultural technologies. According to the foundation, it represents “a commitment to empowering young individuals with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to thrive in the agricultural industry.”
Through roundtable discussions and workshops, the project promotes sustainable agriculture, food security, and environmental stewardship.
3. Yara Shujaa Knowledge Exchange in Kenya
Yara East Africa’s Shujaa Exchange empowers young Kenyan farmers with knowledge in regenerative agriculture, soil health, and food value chains. During a week-long program, three Kenyan farmers, including Janet Toroitich, Rogers Kirwa, and Ronald Diang’a, participated in activities such as visiting Yara’s fertiliser manufacturing plant, interacting with Norway’s farming community, and learning about regenerative agriculture. This initiative, targeted at youth aged 18 to 35, helps them gain valuable insights to improve productivity.
The Shujaa Exchange program aims to highlight the successes of young people within the region, facilitating skills development and knowledge-sharing among youth across continents. These Agritech empowerment initiatives demonstrate how technology and training are transforming agriculture for young African farmers.
Adopting Agritech Empowerment For African Youths
Smallholder farmers form the backbone of Africa’s agriculture but often face challenges such as low productivity and limited access to markets. Engaging young people in farming offers solutions, as it not only provides employment opportunities but also ensures food security and drives rural development.
By adopting these Agritech empowerment initiatives we can equip young farmers with innovative tools and skills, allowing them to adopt sustainable practices and modernise the sector. This fusion of technology and youth engagement promises a resilient, efficient, and sustainable future for African agriculture.
