These days, agricultural technology (agritech) is synonymous with sophisticated systems like AI, IoT, GPS, and the likes. The narrative emphasises coding and software as the bedrock of agritech. This is why recent initiatives to empower youths in agritech cover a lot of complex tech skills.
Somehow, we seem to have forgotten that tech skills encompass hard and soft skills components. The “hard component” like web development & coding undoubtedly supercharges modern tech innovation in agriculture. But turning a blind eye to its counterpart may lead to a gap that we may struggle to fill sooner, rather than later.
There may be counterarguments that solutions provided by soft tech skills can be provided by just anyone. So, any social media manager can work for an agritech company without a background in agriculture. And a graphics designer can be agriculturally illiterate while creating designs for an agribusiness.
From the surface, this seems so true. But until you experience firsthand the output of a content creator or UI/UX designer with a background in agriculture, you may not appreciate the difference.
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At this point, it is worth mentioning that agriculture is important to our existence not just because it provides food. It offers us economic, social, and infrastructural benefits and stability.
So when we discuss agriculture, we must be careful not to miss out on nuances and peculiarities. When we talk of empowering youth in agritech, we must consider every aspect of tech—and various types of people. Operating on this broad scale allows us to capture a wider range of youths who may not be interested in code tech.
The realm of soft tech skills equips young people with tools to engage with agriculture on their terms. It empowers them to innovate, create, and contribute without mastering complex coding languages or algorithms. It is a chance to contribute to the agricultural revolution—or evolution.
The Evolution of Agricultural Technology
Agriculture has come a long way from its traditional roots of manual labour and basic machinery. The rise of digital platforms has transformed everything from how farmers grow their crops to how they sell them.
E-commerce platforms enable farmers to reach consumers far beyond their immediate surroundings. Agricultural mobile apps & other online tools help them manage farm operations more efficiently. However, these developments are not just about high-tech devices and complex algorithms. Soft tech skills have a role to play.
Today, we must empower youths to capitalise on the broader scope of technology available in agriculture, particularly in soft tech skills like content creation and digital marketing. Interestingly, soft tech requires nearly little to master. With a smartphone and internet connection, young agriculturists can learn the skills needed to promote their products, manage customer interactions, and build their brand—all without ever writing a line of code.
This democratisation of technology is particularly crucial in areas like Africa, where access to formal technical education may be limited, but the desire to innovate is not. Read that again!
Soft Tech Skills Empowering Youths
Several soft tech skills can make a lasting impact. They can help youth to contribute their quota to shape the present & future of agriculture in ways that were previously unimaginable. Below are some of the most important soft tech skills to consider:
UI/UX Design
A key component of any digital platform is its user interface (UI) and user experience (UX). Farm management apps, e-commerce platforms for selling agricultural products, and online farmer networks all rely on intuitive, user-friendly designs to function effectively.
A UI/UX designer with an agricultural background is more likely to understand the specific needs of farmers and other agricultural stakeholders. Their work would be driven by an understanding of the practical challenges in farming, such as weather dependencies, crop cycles, and labour management.
On the flip side, a UI/UX designer without any agricultural experience might focus more on general best practices in design and usability without fully considering the agricultural nuances. Their designs could be sleek and user-friendly, but they might overlook critical sector-specific requirements, such as accounting for seasonal workflows, off-grid functionality, or the need for rapid, context-specific decisions.
For example, a designer without this background might create a farm management app that looks aesthetically pleasing but lacks functions for handling offline data collection, which is vital for farmers in remote areas. They might also miss the importance of certain data points that farmers prioritise, such as irrigation needs or pest management alerts.
Content Creation
Content creation, whether through blogs, videos, or infographics, is an essential tool for educating both farmers and consumers. It is an important marketing skill that helps companies, SMEs, NGOs, etc to communicate their message to the world. Content creation is a crucial area where youths in agriculture can be empowered, and they can produce stellar results.
This is because a content creator with an agricultural background will have a deep understanding of farming concepts, practices, and terminology. They can craft articles, blogs, or videos that resonate with the agricultural audience by using accurate and relatable information.
On the other hand, a content creator without agricultural knowledge may focus more on producing generalised or oversimplified content. While they might excel at storytelling or making topics seem engaging to a broad audience, they may struggle with depth or accuracy.
For example, a content creator with agricultural experience might create a blog post discussing the benefits of precision agriculture, citing specific tools, success stories, and tips that real farmers have implemented. A creator without this background might produce a similar post but with less practical advice. This may result in a piece that is interesting but not as actionable for those in the industry.
Virtual Assistance
Youths (especially females) may be trained in the roles of virtual assistants. They could streamline administrative and logistical tasks for agribusiness owners who may not have the time or resources to manage these aspects of their business.
Virtual assistants handle customer service inquiries, schedule deliveries, manage social media accounts, and even provide market analysis. The results will be more pronounced if they have an agricultural background for the following reasons:
A virtual assistant with agricultural experience might assist a farmer by tracking seasonal production data, managing customer orders during peak harvest times, and scheduling equipment maintenance based on usage patterns.
One without this experience might focus on general calendar management, unaware of critical timelines for planting, harvesting, or supply chain coordination. Although these can be learned over time. However, they may cost time and money—two valuable resources in the business world today.
Digital Marketing
Digital marketing strategies, such as content creation, email marketing, targeted ads, search engine optimization (SEO), and social media campaigns, are revolutionising the way agricultural products are marketed and sold. Businesses, especially since COVID-19, have gone online. So the need to build a strong online presence has never been direr.
This situation creates a niche where agriculturally-inclined youth can be empowered. Of course, anyone can provide these services! However, a digital marketer with background/experience in agriculture can create highly targeted marketing campaigns that speak directly to the pain points and aspirations of farmers.
They can develop SEO strategies for agricultural products that use industry-specific keywords, ensuring that farmers looking for “drought-resistant seeds” or “sustainable pest management” find the right content.
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Conversely, a digital marketer without agricultural experience might develop broad marketing strategies that attract general audiences but may miss the mark when it comes to niche agricultural products or services. They could struggle with appropriate messaging or fail to highlight the aspects of a product that are most appealing to farmers.
The Role of Soft Tech Skills in the Future of Agritech
Soft tech skills are not just a supplement to agritech innovation—they are a core part of the sector’s future. These skills are scalable. So they can be applied in different contexts, from smallholder farms in rural Africa to large-scale agribusinesses in Europe.
Moreover, they are accessible to a wide range of people, especially youth, who may not have the opportunity or resources to pursue formal coding education. Or youths who have no interest in coding.
The accessibility of soft tech skills is key to the democratisation of technology in agriculture. It is an effective way to get more younger hands on deck. For many reasons, including lack of resources, African youths face hurdles in getting into agriculture. Soft tech skills offer a way out—a way to enter the agritech space.
Unlike coding, which often requires years of study, soft tech skills can be learned relatively quickly. This single characteristic makes them an attractive option for youth who want to make an immediate impact. As a result, these skills are opening doors for young people to participate in the agricultural digital revolution without the barriers traditionally associated with tech.
Empowering Youth and Bridging the Skills Gap
One of the most significant advantages of soft tech skills is their potential to bridge the skills gap in agriculture. In many parts of the world, opportunities to learn code tech skills may be scarce. And since soft tech skills take relatively little to learn, we can empower young people to contribute to the agricultural sector in meaningful ways.
Governments, educational institutions, and agricultural organisations can play a crucial role in developing training programs that focus on soft tech skills for agriculture. For example, programs that teach digital marketing, virtual assistance, or content creation—within the context of agriculture—could help youth build online businesses.
Source: Pexels
Educational institutions can also integrate soft tech skills into agricultural curricula. This will ensure that the next generation of farmers are well-versed in both the technical and non-technical aspects of farming. Furthermore, agricultural organisations can also partner with tech companies to create internship and mentorship programs that allow youth to gain hands-on experience in applying these soft tech skills to agriculture.
Conclusion
We must look beyond hard tech skills when discussing youth empowerment in agritech. Other soft tech skills can be crucial, too. They enable more youths to participate in the digital farming era. With these accessible and scalable skills, we can bridge skill gaps in agriculture. We can create a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable future for farming.
