Harnessing rural youth’s potential in forest and farm production systems is vital. Young people enhances labour productivity, helps maximize the use of technology and social media, and facilitates adoption of a healthy attitude to risk and resilience. However, high numbers of rural youth that migrate to urban areas threaten their contribution to the prosperity of forest landscapes. 

Highlighting their role at a regional exchange and knowledge management fair held on 2-3 October, young farmer leaders had the opportunity to share their experiences in agri-forest based livelihoods as well as their initiatives to respond to the impacts of COVID-19 in the sector. Titled “Young Women and Men Farmers as Advocates for Sustainable, Resilient, Gender-sensitive Agri-forest based Livelihoods,” the virtual event gave young people a platform to  find common synergies in their action plans and to gain an entry point for regional cooperation. The event was organized by the Asia Farmers’ Association (AFA), with participation from Forest and Farm Facility partners, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).

“Young farmers possess innovative ideas and creativity, a sense of cooperation, and the much needed knowledge on sustainable environmental management,’’ said Pauline Buffle of the IUCN. “We need young people’s ideas to expand sustainable practices of integrated farming and the use of renewable energy for the next generation, as they did in Cambodia. We need their initiatives as well to get young and older generation to keep the traditional knowledge alive, of women in particular, as they have in India,’’ she added. 

Multiple factors drive rural youth to leave home in search of greener pastures. Lack of jobs and economic opportunities, social contacts, access to land, health services, and education are among the common reasons. Globally, a quarter of all youth are unemployed, in irregular jobs, or did not receive formal education or training.

Opportunities for more decent and meaningful work are therefore imperative, as well as maintaining social ties among those who migrate to cities. Equally important are better offerings on finance, knowledge and contacts for those who return home.

Forest and farm producer organizations (FFPOs) play a significant role in engaging rural youth, as they are often their employers. In addition, FFPOs help promote rural prosperity, one that is a negotiated vision taking into account perceptions of different groups, including those of young women and men.

‘’It is very important that forest and farm organizations’ youth engagement strategy responds to the needs and values of young people, whether they remain in rural areas, leave for education or work, or come back,’’ said Duncan McQueen of IIED.  

For instance, forest and farm organizations could involve young people in decision-making and help in finding meaningful work for those who remain in rural areas. Among those who leave, establishing connections and setting up ways of sending back money to their place of origin could be useful. For young people coming back, establishing ways to reintegrate and make the most of the knowledge they gained from the cities could be part of their strategy.

In a recent FFF survey led by IIED, “Prosperity in Place”, to search for solutions against the underutilized youth which is a neglected opportunity, of 49 FFPOs in six countries, 59 percent had active youth programmes and 27 percent acknowledged the importance of youth engagement but without specific programmes in place. Gender differentiated strategy for each group, remainers, leavers, and returners should be established.Returners from the urban context, for example, can bring back knowledge, encourage investment using resources and provide business incubation support. Youth programmes that are actively in place commonly feature youth training on technical and business production, and initiatives that target youth who remain within their place of origin. FFPOs surveyed frequently cited business development as an attractive option to influence youth outmigration. Youth farmers are those who will ensure food production and who link the power of nature with human beings.

AFA with support of the FFF develops the establishment of Young Farmers Committees within the FFPOs, and the development and promotion of Young Farmers action plan to advocate for sustainable, resilient, and gender-sensitive agri-forest-based livelihoods within the framework of the UN Decade on Family Farming (UNDFF).