المنتدى العالمي المعني بالأمن الغذائي والتغذية

Policy framing and policy responses to the ‘problem’ of these young people and agriculture in Africa is hampered by a lack of theoretically and conceptually sound research and evidence that is contextually sensitive. Most national surveys do not explicitly separate those 15-17 but bundle them together in the 15-19 years age group in the adolescent bracket (for SRH projects). It is therefore important that analyses from agricultural surveys e.g. the Living Standards Measurement Study (LSMS) tailor make some questions for this age bracket, for  targeted interventions. The interventions for this age bracket with regards to accessing decent work may vary geographically depending on the economic status of a country. For example, most rural youths aged 15-17 years in Malawi will have dropped out of school and entered into wedlock and had children, while in South Africa they would still be in school and getting a social grant if they (girls) had a child. While some have argued that agricultural transformation is the key to reducing poverty in sub Saharan Africa, some have argued that higher education levels have the greatest impact. In Malawi entrepreneurship in agro-products can provide career options for young people by unleashing their economic potential.

Christopher Manyamba

PhD Finalist: University of Pretoria, Institute for Food, Nutrition & Well Being. South Africa