4 WAYS TO ENGAGE THE YOUTH IN FARMING
In Africa, over 200million people are aged between 15 and 24, and this age group according to the African Economic Outlooks, is expected to double in number by 2045. Aside the youth considering agriculture to be a less prestigious and demeaning activity, low profitability, poor security of land tenure are just some reasons why the youth in rural areas especially, migrate to cities to look for jobs. Agriculture is one of the most important sectors and the youth is very much needed in that sector and below are 4 ways to engage the youth in agriculture.
1. Strengthen Higher Education In Agriculture.
Relatively few students choose to study agriculture and it is important to teach them more than there is already in their syllabus. Taught materials need to linked to advances in technology, facilitate innovation and have greater relevance to a diverse evolving agricultural sector. Reforms to agricultural tertiary education should be designed for young people and as such the process requires their direct engagement
2. Put Agriculture On The School Curricula
Modules on farming should be included in primary and high school education , from growing to marketing crops. This is to help young people at an early stage, see the potential careers that agriculture presents.
3. Greater Public Investment In Agriculture
If the government avoids the importation of fake food products such as plastic rice, plastic vegetables, etc, into the country and invest in their own agricultural sector, the youth would be motivated to engage in agriculture to help in our country's development. More jobs should be created in the agricultural sector,not only literally working on the farms and getting one's hands dirty, but also there should be jobs for marketing and advertising professionals, scientists, logistics professionals in the agricultural sector to help develop the sector and build our nation.
4. Empowering The Youth To Speak Up
Views of the youth concerning agriculture is very important and need to be taken in order to help improve agriculture and address agricultural issues. Engaging the youth in agriculture can provide solutions for many future challenges related to food security, unemployment, urbanisation and climate change. Policy agendas should be geared sufficiently towards the youth to involve them in decision making to engage, the youth in agriculture they need to be capitalised upon and empowered.
In Africa, over 200million people are aged between 15 and 24, and this age group according to the African Economic Outlooks, is expected to double in number by 2045. Aside the youth considering agriculture to be a less prestigious and demeaning activity, low profitability, poor security of land tenure are just some reasons why the youth in rural areas especially, migrate to cities to look for jobs. Agriculture is one of the most important sectors and the youth is very much needed in that sector and below are 4 ways to engage the youth in agriculture.
1. Strengthen Higher Education In Agriculture.
Relatively few students choose to study agriculture and it is important to teach them more than there is already in their syllabus. Taught materials need to linked to advances in technology, facilitate innovation and have greater relevance to a diverse evolving agricultural sector. Reforms to agricultural tertiary education should be designed for young people and as such the process requires their direct engagement
2. Put Agriculture On The School Curricula
Modules on farming should be included in primary and high school education , from growing to marketing crops. This is to help young people at an early stage, see the potential careers that agriculture presents.
3. Greater Public Investment In Agriculture
If the government avoids the importation of fake food products such as plastic rice, plastic vegetables, etc, into the country and invest in their own agricultural sector, the youth would be motivated to engage in agriculture to help in our country's development. More jobs should be created in the agricultural sector,not only literally working on the farms and getting one's hands dirty, but also there should be jobs for marketing and advertising professionals, scientists, logistics professionals in the agricultural sector to help develop the sector and build our nation.
4. Empowering The Youth To Speak Up
Views of the youth concerning agriculture is very important and need to be taken in order to help improve agriculture and address agricultural issues. Engaging the youth in agriculture can provide solutions for many future challenges related to food security, unemployment, urbanisation and climate change. Policy agendas should be geared sufficiently towards the youth to involve them in decision making to engage, the youth in agriculture they need to be capitalised upon and empowered.
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