Presentation made by NGOUAMBE Nestor at the Regional forum on cassava in central Africa, on 6-9 Dec 2016, in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

1. CASSAVA IN CENTRAL AFRICA: CHALLENGES
AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALLHOLDERS
Strategy for boosting agribusiness
development along cassava value
chain for young people
NGOUAMBE Nestor, Agroeconomist, YPARD representative Cameroon

2. INTRODUCTION
 Around 240 millions of people still suffered of
food insecurity in subsahara Africa
 Lack of opportunity for young people to get
involve with agriculture
 Agriculture is not really considered as carreer in
most countries
 Low investment in agriculture

3.  CAADP (2003) & Malabo Declaration (2014): engagent
government to invest more in agriculture and create
more opportunities for young and women
 Many Africa countries are progressively considered
agriculture as main pillar of their economic growth.
They are now conscious that agriculture is the only
sector able to bring significant change to their respective
economy.

4. CHALLENGE FOR YOUTH IN AGRIBUSINESS
 Increase Investment and revising agricultural finance policy.
 The promotion of microfinance institutions and banks
(Young people and women still have limited access to finance.
Most bank are not motivated to invest in agriculture due to
high risk).
 improve Rural infrastructure and rural advisory services ( a
key drive for boosting agribusiness in central Africa).
 Promoting Public and private partnership for harmonization
of actions and strategies.
 Promote youth platform for experience sharing, lesson learnt
and best practices to let’s some get inspired. (agribusinessTV)

5. WHAT IS OBSERVED NOW
 Some countries (East, South, Western Africa) try to increase
investment in agriculture in favor of youth (Youth Agripreneur)
and this has significant change on food security, If central Africa
countries can copy this example, it would be good for our people.
 There are several strategies or development plan with valuable
and concrete issues, but those strategies lack a strong operational
plan.
 In Cameroon for example, the strategy is to be an emergent
country in 2035, within the theoretical framework, agriculture is
consider as a cornerstone of this approach. But the total budget
related to agriculture is still less than 4%.
 This just simple main that, it is not necessary to develop a
strategic, but to give means to implement those policies if we
want to face food insecurity.

6. WHAT IS YPARD ABOUT?
 Young professional Platform for Agricultural
development : international movement 4 Youth in
agriculture present in around 60 countries
 Vision
Sustainably improved livelihoods worldwide where
young professionals are proactively contributing to
innovative agricultural development.
Mission
 To serve as a global collective platform through
which young professionals can realise their full
potential and contribute proactively towards
innovative agricultural development.

7. Objectives
 Facilitate exchange of information and knowledge
among young professionals across disciplines,
professions, age and regions
 Broaden opportunities for YPs to contribute to
strategic ARD policy debates
 To promote agriculture among young people (activities
still under discussion)
 Facilitate access to resources and capacity building
opportunities

9. YOUTH ARE PROGRESSIVELY INTERESTED TO GET INVOLVE IN
AGRICULTURE

10. SOME KEY ACTIONS
 Realizing Central Africa Agriculture potential by move from
subsistence to true agribusiness, create more value chain
along specific subsectors (roots & tubers (cassava), cereals,,
fruits & legume).
 Revigorating agricultural training and education (start
agriculture courses at primary school)
 Developing specific programmes for youth agribusiness
 Re-organizing farmer into true cooperatives societies

11. AGRIC COM APPROACH IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS –
CASE STUDY : SCHOOL VEGETABLE GARDEN PROJECT (2)
A B C D
EFGH
Composting
Workshop
Kids looking for
grass to make
compost
Cover grass
with soil
Compost pile
after watering
Soil bed
preparation
and Manure
Grass
mulching to
protect
Best
vegetables
drawn by kids
Seeds given to
kids for school
and home

12.  Developed Market-driven approach (PIDMA has great
initiative in Cameroon, but should paid more attention on
cooperative managed by young people)
 Increase partnership between research-innovation and
extension to delivered adaquate services to young
agripreneur
 Food security is the global problems, but the challenge is to
be self-sufficient first. The limitation of importation will
increase investment (agribusiness) & food production and will
let more youth get involve.
 Can you realized that Africa spent more than 6 billion
USD/year to import rice. More than 3 billion to import wheat
flour in Cameroun. If we invest this amount to boost our local
cassava production, we can be food secure by creating wealth,
employment, and reduce the gap between import and export.

13. We can end hunger only by increasing food productivity
and availability.
Government should really invest in agriculture, research
and innovation.
youth should be empowered and considered in agri-policy
at national or regional level.
Women must follow some trainings on feeding, nutrition
and sanitation.

14. WAY FORWARD?
 As Youth in Agriculture and agribusiness what can we
do to break the gaps?
 What policies issues could be addressed for boosting
agribusiness among youth in central Africa countries
 What strategy to advocate about relevant investment
in youth agribusiness venture?
 How can ICT could be useful for Youth agribusiness
venture since there are the one dealing most with ICT
tools

15. MERCI DE VOTRE
ATTENTION
« If agriculture is the engine
able to create more economic
opportunities in Africa, youth
and women are the fuel able to
strengh its power »