Youth and community farmers in Manono are gaining knowledge in agriculture, which is crucial to creating job opportunities. A three-day training workshop to build capacity of selected young and community farmers in agribusiness Management and contract farming ithat took place in Manono tai, Samoa.

Experienced trainers from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) stressed employment challenges for the you and the broader community as well. They shared knowledge to build the capacity of young farmers on agribusiness management.

The trainings are part of a broader FAO funded project called Strengthening capacity of Youth for employment and livelihood in Agriculture, which aims to strengthen capacity of youth to pursue agriculture as a livelihood and employment option. 

 “Employment for youth is a big challenge for Samoa.” said National Project Coordinator, Tommy Tuuamalii from MAF. “Young women and men need to develop the knowledge and skills to enter the labour market, and to be provided with additional supporting services to secure employment opportunities.”

“This workshop in Saleloga provided knowledge which will contribute to people’s livelihoods.” Added Tuuamalii.

FAO agribusiness value chains specialist, Shukrullah Sherzad said, “Through following value chain approach, FAO is building capacity of young farmers on production, processing and agribusiness management”. Sherzard noted that to successfully manage farm as a business, farmers need to know the value of its production, the income they receive from their farms and better knowledge of market access and farm management.

 Through the  – Agribusiness management and contract farming – workshop FAO is building the capacity of young farmers on farm as a business management and access to market through Contract Farming.

The  FAO trainings are part of the wider United Nation Youth Employment Programme, where FAO, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and Ministry of Women, Community & Social Development – Division for Youth, are collaborating to build the technical capacity of young farmers and school pupils in various aspects of agriculture development in Samoa. The project was launched on 11 April 2017 to help Samoan youth gain employment in the agriculture sector.