Agriculture contributes heavily to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of many African countries and about 23 percent of the GDP of sub-Saharan Africa comes from the sector which employs more than half of the rural population.<\/p>\n
Despite the positive effect of agriculture across the continent, the sector remains unattractive to young people. Many young Africans move to the urban areas and have no interest in taking up agriculture as a source of livelihood.<\/p>\n
Most young people in the continent consider agriculture as the profession of the old. Despite having a median age of 19 years old, the average farmers’ age in Africa is 60 years old. Most young people regard agriculture as ineffective, socially immobile, and technologically bland due to a lack of land, loans, and innovations in agriculture.<\/p>\n
“I’m ready to create employment but getting land to farm and apply for a loan is the biggest headache as my parents have not subdivided the land to me,” said Mr Joseph Irungu, an Agribusiness graduate from Kenyatta University.<\/p>\n
“African governments should create capital backings to the interest of the youth in agriculture. To make agriculture more viable for the young people, government or responsible agribusinesses should provide funding,” said Nakuru CEC for Agriculture Immaculate Maina.<\/p>\n
According to an Oxford Business Group report, Africa stands a chance to eradicate food poverty and develop economies through agriculture but not without solving the problems facing its agricultural sector like poor governance, lack of investment, low use of fertilisers, better seed type, low use of mechanised farming, accelerated population growth, climate change, increased urbanisation among others.<\/p>\n
An increase in agricultural productivity where the youth are actively involved will end hunger, reduce post-harvest losses, and enhance nutrition by 2025.<\/p>\n
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the agricultural market in Africa will grow to $1 trillion (Sh110 trillion) by 2030, and Agritech companies have been identified as the backbone for the expansion.<\/p>\n
The 2017 World Food Prize laureate, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, said the future of Africa’s youth lies in agriculture. “Involving more youth in agriculture and agribusiness is crucial to help African countries achieve development goals.”<\/p>\n
Organisations like the One Acre Fund in East Africa are giving loans to young farmers to help them acquire farm inputs and has partnered with telecommunication giants Safaricom through its digital platform M-Pesa which allows for a flexible and easy way of repaying the loans the farmers get.<\/p>\n