Policymakers
and researchers in Africa have declared the rising youth unemployment in the
continent a “time bomb” that should be quickly “defused” using appropriate
policies and initiatives before it “detonates” and wreaks havoc on the
continent. They also expressed worries over the continent’s rising food import
bill, which is estimated at $35 billion annually. This amount, they said, if
invested in agriculture could generate jobs and take some youths out of the
labor market.
“The
youth problem is indeed a
‘time bomb’ but also an opportunity if we can quickly
harness the energy in this population and channel it to constructive use,” said
Executive Director, Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in
Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), Dr. Fina Opio, who chaired a special
session titled: “Promoting Youth Engagement in Agribusiness: the International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture (IITA) Agripreneur Model,” at the event marking the 15th
anniversary of the forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) in South
Africa.
Accounting
for about 70 percent of the African population, the youth comprising young men
and women have the most education, enthusiasm, and strength, yet very limited
opportunities to apply such talents within communities.
However,
the recent experience by the IITA Youth in Agribusiness reveals that young
individuals between 21 and 27 years old with different backgrounds and academic
disciplines (ranging from art, information technology, and engineering to the
biological sciences and agriculture) can take on the challenge of
self-development with the right environment and encouragement. The initiative,
which began in 2012, under the leadership of Dr. Nteranya Sanginga, IITA
Director General, has proven that given the proper opportunities and
incentives, the urban and rural youth can quickly be directed towards
market-oriented agriculture, agribusiness, and agro-services provision, with a
huge impact upon the larger farming community.
Opio
backed the initiative by IITA and called on donors and policymakers to support
it.
“I
was in Ibadan and was very impressed with the achievements of these young men
and women. This is the way we should go and IITA has shown the way,” she added.
The
special session, which had other organisations such as the Conseil ouest et
centre africain pour la recherche et le développement agricoles/ West and
Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development
(CORAF/WECARD), and the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and
Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) among others, recommended the
following: Mainstreaming the youth unemployment challenge at the national and
even on regional and continental levels; review and change of curriculums on
agriculture in schools to encourage youth to go into the business of
agriculture and thereby create agricultural entrepreneurs. In addition, the
business orientation has to be emphasised and incorporated in the new
curriculum; and provision of access for youths to resources (funds, innovations,
etc.) and collective assets such as machinery, land, productive assets, etc.
The
position of the special session was reechoed by Dr Kanayo Nwanze, President of
the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) during his keynote
talk at the highlight of the celebration today.
According
to Nwanze, if we wait further and do nothing, the ‘time bomb’ will explode.
The
IFAD president called on African governments to develop policies that would
encourage inclusive growth, giving greater attention to marginalized groups
including youth and women, development of rural infrastructure, and provision
of social services in the rural areas to curb rural-urban migration.
He
said Africa’s food import bill of $35 billion was a source of concern because
the continent’s dependence on food imports was hurting the creation of local
jobs which the youth would have benefited from.
The
Celebrating FARA event was attended by over 500 policymakers, researchers, and
the donor community both from within and outside of Africa.
Head
of the Partnership Coordination Office at IITA and Project Leader of the
Cassava Weed Management Project, Dr. Alfred Dixon said the event reechoed the
magnitude of the youth problem among policymakers, technocrats, development
investors, and other stakeholders in Africa.
Thisday
No comments:
Post a Comment