Mainstreaming youth in agric critical to poverty alleviation

„ TO achieve upper middle class status, it is essential to transform the agricultural sector into a productive, high-value, market-oriented sector. Youth involvement in agricultural activities guarantees the provision of manpower, skills and advanced farm-tech expertise.

Several advantages make young people a strategic group for agricultural activities. It is important to note that their numerical advantage is around 60% of the population. Young people working in agriculture can generate high economic returns, reduce poverty and improve gross domestic product.

Demand for agricultural products continues to grow. Consequently production faces limitations in agricultural equipment and insufficient financial support, resulting in land abandonment and idleness, affecting yields and food security.

Therefore, there is a need to integrate youth in the agricultural sector. Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Shadreck Makombe recently emphasised that agriculture is an important sector of the economy and that the introduction of the agriculture hubs will reduce youth unemployment.

"Agricultural innovation hub will go a long way in assisting youths in many facets of development because agriculture is one of the key drivers of the economy and it is found in all agro regions,” he said.

“Many of the youth are also going to be part of these innovation hubs thereby alleviating unemployment and enhancing their empowerment.”

Further, Zimbabwe Integrated Commercial Farmers Union president Mayiwepi Jiti stated that these agriculture hubs will provide youth with room to bring in new technologies and innovations to improve agricultural productivity and this will improve their livelihoods.

Increasing the number of agro-preneurs is symptomatic of benefits and livelihood avenues for many in the agricultural value chain.

Youth friendly agricultural policy, financial support and incentives that attract young people are essential to job creation and stimulating economic and social development, as well as to change the perception that agriculture is not attractive.

Challenges faced by farmers worsened over the past two years due to Covid-19, particularly in terms of efficiency, resilience and sustainability. Declining sales increased pressure on profit margins, fuelling farmers' demands for more innovative ways to market and sell their produce.

Adaptation of smart agriculture concepts and mobile technology across the sector to enhance productivity, resilience and reduce losses is important to smallholder and commercial farmers. It is crucial to manage farms using modern information and communication technologies to increase the quantity and quality of products.

A youth-led agribusiness Afrobasket, that provides healthy food such as vegetables and fruits, has emerged as one of the innovative agribusinesses proving that youth can unlock the value of agriculture.

Afrobasket founder Audrey Tadu is transforming many lives through job creation and using social platforms to maximise customer engagement.

After graduating from medical school she now pursues agricultural adventures and hopes to expand her agribusiness.

“In future, we’re looking to work towards becoming the number one brand in the sector and to export our fruits to other countries particularly those in the Western countries where temperatures are not favourable for farming for the greater part of the year,” she said.

Co-opting youth in the agricultural sector will contribute to productivity growth and unemployment reduction.

To attract young people to the sector, agricultural policies that directly affect their access to land, finance and markets must be youth-friendly.