Boosting Africa’s Youth in Agriculture: A Path to Food Security and Employment

A study highlights that engaging Africa’s youth in rural development and agriculture can significantly enhance food security and address unemployment. Despite the potential, youth participation remains low due to factors such as labor intensity, lack of infrastructure, poor financial returns, and limited access to quality seeds. Traditionally viewed as a sector for the elderly and less educated, agriculture is now being revolutionized by Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs). Research by Sylvester Jotta in Tanzania under the CARE project shows that limited access to research-extension processes hampers young farmers’ productivity. Jotta emphasizes that using ICTs for research-extension dissemination is crucial for delivering agricultural services, as young farmers currently have minimal interaction with essential entities like training institutes, seed agencies, and financial institutions.