Information, credit critical for young farmers

YOUNG men and women who want to go into farming face obstacles, including limited access to information, technology, and financial services.

Banks often turn away potential farmers because they do not think that farming is a viable business, or that land is a sufficient source of collateral. This adds to the perception that farming is not an attractive enterprise.

To help tackle the issue of access to credit, young farmers projects like the Global Youth Business Incubator should be launched to connect young entrepreneurs with investors, organisations and supporters.

Also, the International Fund For Agricultural Development has many different projects that establish and strengthen micro-lending institutions that give young men and women the jump-start they need for their business.

There should be focus on young women, especially rural women, so as to highlight the important role they play in agricultural transformation. Young people, especially young women, add a lot to the value chain where there are a lot of opportunities.

They are the future of small holder farming. Every time the youth is given an opportunity, women should be helped in many ways.

Zoe Nirina is connected to a project that works with rural people in one of the country’s poorest and most densely populated regions to increase income.

She gained access to the market with her cheese and yogurt, which she processes, packages and sells.

She added moringa to her yogurt, a crop with medicinal value, to make her product more nutritious and give it a delicious new taste.

Her business endeavour was a success, and she now employees other members of her community.

Another young woman, Nomuhle Sibanda was able to gain access to credit, something not usually available to a woman who did not have a high school diploma.

She underwent training on how to manage a fish farm. Today, she has expanded her business significantly. She not only has a substantially larger income, but also employees and oversees men. Sibanda now is well-respected within her community.

These young women represent the benefits of empowering women, and young people as a whole.