Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on Jun 22, 2021 10:40:13 GMT 1
How To Make Agriculture And Agribusiness Attractive To Nigerian Youths
Currently agriculture occupies an important position in the economy of most African countries.
The agricultural sector of the economy accounts for an average of 32% of the GDP of various countries in Africa.
It also employs close to 70% of the working population in many countries of Africa. Agriculture is the most dynamic sector in the continent of Africa.
The continent of Africa accounts for close to 60% of the world’s arable lands; but we continue to import food into the continent.
The African continent is supposed to be self-sufficient in food production, in reality the reverse is the case.
Africa’s population is growing at an exponential rate; but the average population age is 20 years.
The main obstacle in the agricultural sector is the ageing population. Modern agricultural farming requires the integration of new technologies in order to be sufficiently productive at the global level.
A profession with an ageing population
Over 80% of the agricultural sector is composed of small scale farmers engaged in the business as family units.
Africa now understands that emphasis is shifting to technology based farming - using new technology for farming activities.
In Nigeria today, we can see the emergence of outgrower schemes also known as contract farming where there are binding agreements between farmers and private companies.
Under this scheme, a farmer or a group of farmers promise to supply the companies with agricultural commodities for cash or other farm inputs.
Africa has the largest concentration of young people in the world, according to the United Nations (UN). Also according to the World Bank, in Africa youths account for 60% of the jobless population.
To solve this problem, various governments in Africa should start looking at businesses around agriculture like; processing, packaging, transportation, distribution, and financial services. These are expected to create numerous jobs for the youths.
Food and Agricultural organization (FAO) states that Africa has about 874 million hectares of arable land suitable for agricultural production.
Things to be done to attract youths to participate in agriculture
1. Provide capital for them:
More than 50% of youths in many African countries complained that lack of funds is what has been militating against their involvement in agriculture.
They need funds to buy tools and all other materials that will be needed in the business.
The government should increase their efforts in making funds available to the young people as banks and other financial institutions consider them high risk for loans.
2. Provide them with knowledge and organize skill acquisition trainings for them regularly:
It is evident that most of the youths lack the requisite knowledge and skills needed to make a success in modern agriculture.
Our university system and other tertiary institutions do not impart such practical knowledge to the graduates; therefore the government must make appropriate arrangements to train them for success in the business.
3. Agriculture should be presented to the youths as a respected field:
From the very young ages, agriculture and agribusiness should be constantly presented to them as a respectable business. When this is ingrained in their brains they will be more eager to accept it as a good profession.
Youths from the rural areas have been used to seeing farmers suffer and do not make much money as they were mainly small scale farmers working for subsistence living.
Government should support and encourage small scale farmers to help them increase their output and thereby increase their earnings too. This will convince the youths to join.
4. Government should encourage mechanization of agriculture:
Small scale farming as practiced in many African countries is very hard when traditional farming tools like hoes and machetes are used. Mechanization tools like tractors and harvesters will surely make life easier for the youths and increase output tremendously.
Modern youth cannot withstand the type of hardship and stress that the village folks pass through. Therefore, the business needs to be simplified for them by introducing mechanization.
5. Improve product yield for farmers with improved seedlings:
Governments in Africa should procure and distribute improved seedlings that will increase the yields from farming. When this happens, the youths will feel the impact and become more interested in the business.
We of this forum are aware of the tremendous efforts being put in by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) through the Central Bank of Nigeria (FGN) to modernize and make agriculture attractive to the youths.
The government has introduced many schemes, but more of such schemes are still needed to cover more of the teeming youth population.
We have a dedicated department in our organization that trains youths in agriculture and agricultural businesses including exports.
Get in touch with the Admin of the forum for more information.
Stay with us.
Currently agriculture occupies an important position in the economy of most African countries.
The agricultural sector of the economy accounts for an average of 32% of the GDP of various countries in Africa.
It also employs close to 70% of the working population in many countries of Africa. Agriculture is the most dynamic sector in the continent of Africa.
The continent of Africa accounts for close to 60% of the world’s arable lands; but we continue to import food into the continent.
The African continent is supposed to be self-sufficient in food production, in reality the reverse is the case.
Africa’s population is growing at an exponential rate; but the average population age is 20 years.
The main obstacle in the agricultural sector is the ageing population. Modern agricultural farming requires the integration of new technologies in order to be sufficiently productive at the global level.
A profession with an ageing population
Over 80% of the agricultural sector is composed of small scale farmers engaged in the business as family units.
Africa now understands that emphasis is shifting to technology based farming - using new technology for farming activities.
In Nigeria today, we can see the emergence of outgrower schemes also known as contract farming where there are binding agreements between farmers and private companies.
Under this scheme, a farmer or a group of farmers promise to supply the companies with agricultural commodities for cash or other farm inputs.
Africa has the largest concentration of young people in the world, according to the United Nations (UN). Also according to the World Bank, in Africa youths account for 60% of the jobless population.
To solve this problem, various governments in Africa should start looking at businesses around agriculture like; processing, packaging, transportation, distribution, and financial services. These are expected to create numerous jobs for the youths.
Food and Agricultural organization (FAO) states that Africa has about 874 million hectares of arable land suitable for agricultural production.
Things to be done to attract youths to participate in agriculture
1. Provide capital for them:
More than 50% of youths in many African countries complained that lack of funds is what has been militating against their involvement in agriculture.
They need funds to buy tools and all other materials that will be needed in the business.
The government should increase their efforts in making funds available to the young people as banks and other financial institutions consider them high risk for loans.
2. Provide them with knowledge and organize skill acquisition trainings for them regularly:
It is evident that most of the youths lack the requisite knowledge and skills needed to make a success in modern agriculture.
Our university system and other tertiary institutions do not impart such practical knowledge to the graduates; therefore the government must make appropriate arrangements to train them for success in the business.
3. Agriculture should be presented to the youths as a respected field:
From the very young ages, agriculture and agribusiness should be constantly presented to them as a respectable business. When this is ingrained in their brains they will be more eager to accept it as a good profession.
Youths from the rural areas have been used to seeing farmers suffer and do not make much money as they were mainly small scale farmers working for subsistence living.
Government should support and encourage small scale farmers to help them increase their output and thereby increase their earnings too. This will convince the youths to join.
4. Government should encourage mechanization of agriculture:
Small scale farming as practiced in many African countries is very hard when traditional farming tools like hoes and machetes are used. Mechanization tools like tractors and harvesters will surely make life easier for the youths and increase output tremendously.
Modern youth cannot withstand the type of hardship and stress that the village folks pass through. Therefore, the business needs to be simplified for them by introducing mechanization.
5. Improve product yield for farmers with improved seedlings:
Governments in Africa should procure and distribute improved seedlings that will increase the yields from farming. When this happens, the youths will feel the impact and become more interested in the business.
We of this forum are aware of the tremendous efforts being put in by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) through the Central Bank of Nigeria (FGN) to modernize and make agriculture attractive to the youths.
The government has introduced many schemes, but more of such schemes are still needed to cover more of the teeming youth population.
We have a dedicated department in our organization that trains youths in agriculture and agricultural businesses including exports.
Get in touch with the Admin of the forum for more information.
Stay with us.
