1. Youth, Agriculture and Rural
Development in Developing
countries/ACP regions
John Omiti
Nancy Laibuni
Simon Githuku
jmomiti@kippra.or.ke
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2. Definition of Youth
 Age (15-35 years)
 Differences across regions
– Political Importance [‘leaders of tomorrow’]
– Cultural aspects (Gender, Marriage)
– Unemployment // Wealth Gaps
– Emerging issues (ICT, Migration)
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3. African Youth - Demographics
 Large share of youth in population (youth bulge)
 70 % is aged below 25 years (200 million)
 37% of the total labor force
 Youth unemployment rate (2009)
- North Africa ≈ 24 %
- Sub-Saharan Africa ≈ 50-60?
 Unskilled youth = (25 - 50 %)
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4. Caribbean Youth - Demographics
10%
50% 20 - 25 yrs
40% 18 - 20 yrs
25 - 30 yrs
50%
 Literacy levels: 1990 ≈ 92%; 2009 ≈ 97%
 Unemployment ≈ 40 - 60% (except Barbados)
 20 - 30% of the labour force
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5. Pacific Youth - Demographics
 20% of working population
 Youth unemployment high:
 Kiribati ≈ 39%
 Samoa ≈ 58%
 Solomon Islands ≈ 42 %
 Tonga ≈ 43 %
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6. Key Issues
 Rural poverty
 Migration of the youth:
 Urban areas
 Overseas (OECD)
 High levels of unemployment/underemployment
 Deferred plans [e.g., investments, marriage]
 Ageing farm populations [future of agriculture]
 Youth bulge (social unrest)
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7. Youth are key agents
 Social change
 Access to higher and innovative education
 Culture (music, arts, etc)
 Economic development
 Broad range of opportunities
 Access to physical and financial resources
 Technological innovation
 dynamic conditions to incubate ideas and innovate
 Political Change
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8. Involving Youth in Agriculture
 Africa
 Average age of farmer ≈ 55 years
 Average life expectancy ≈ 49-54 years
 Caribbean
 Average age of farmers ≈ 55 years
 Average life expectancy ≈ 65-70 years
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9. Why interest youth in Agriculture
 Public Perceptions [‘grow own food’]
 Self Reliance and Self Sufficiency
 Building Human Resource Base
 Political goodwill and Investments
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10. Youth perceptions towards Agriculture
Generally negative youth perceptions with
respect to participation in agriculture
• Not perceived as a viable business initiative
• Employer of last resort (urban-rural youth)
• Not an attractive career path
• offers no opportunity for a better life
• Not appealing - no prestige (status) regardless
of the economic outcomes.

11. Youth and ICT
 ICT is attractive to the youth
 ICT applications (software) – forecast e.g.
weather patterns, precision farming, etc.
 Managing agricultural information data-
creating agricultural databases, payment
systems, marketing, price trends, satellite-
based insurance, etc.
 ICT is dynamic and challenging
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12. Youth and Agribusiness – value chain
Factors that limit youth participation in agribusiness:
 Limited market information
 Inability to access credit
 Inadequate training
 Skills mis-match
 Low profitability associated with agri-
enterprises
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13. Ways to engage youth in agriculture
• Demystifying the negative myths about agriculture
• Presenting agriculture as a profitable venture
• Availing special agriculture funding for youth
• Providing incentives to young people engaged in
agriculture
• Preferential treatment for young farmers e.g. water
levy, taxation laxity
• Availing fair market opportunities for youth
• Modernizing agriculture
• Providing training opportunities in new technologies

14. Ways to engage youth in agriculture
• Recognition and supporting young graduates as
potential employees within the agribusiness
sector
• Support youth in establishing and managing a
youth network in agriculture
• Include youth in policy decision making and
implementation
• Agriculture in Education system since primary
level

15. Policy Suggestions
 Employment
 Employability
 Addressing Technical Skills Mis-matches
 Addressing Non-Technical Skills Mismatches (skills
development)
 Employment Creation: Address slow job/career growth
 Equal Opportunities: Addressing youth-discrimination /
deficiencies in the labour market and Inadequate Job
Matching
 Facilitating Entrepreneurship
 Business Development Services (BDS) + Futures Markets
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16. Policy Suggestions
 Agri-Business Innovations
 Package technology for young farmers
 Green house farming
 Grafting of fruits / vegetables
 Use integrated and multifunctional
business approach
 Targets young farmers
 Use Mobile phones for
recordings, management, etc 16

17. ..Young Original Unique Talented Hopeful.
our YOUTH
Thank You!
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