Even after going through the youth-specific capacity development initiatives in agriculture, such youth need other supportive initiatives that would help them sustain their interest and focus. Such support should include mentoring them into identifying their Talents and interest in agriculture before they are plunged into the sector. Those with talent and interest in farming are most likely to succeed since they are able to translate farming into an interesting job for themselves and eventually influence their peer into agriculture and act as their peer mentors.
A consistent mentorship, coaching and relevant supportive functions are critical to these young farmers in helping them remain focused and interested in Agriculture. Identifying mature successful mentors from within their localities with a success story will work wonders to the trained youth who can identify a good promise to excel in farming thus sustaining the interest. It is also necessary to group these trained youth into common interest groups based on their areas of focus (Livestock or Crops farming) to help create "accountability partners" among themselves, on their joint journey in Agriculture. They will challenge, encourage support and consult each other as they grow together in Agriculture and subsequently love it and attract others to join them.
It’s necessary to note here that many financial institutions have none or limited youth based option on financial services. Again, with the continued land demarcations, occasioned by population increase, many young people have no or limited access to land for agriculture or for collateral. As such access to the necessary resources for Agricultural venture by youth remain at the training level. With access to financial and with a good support functions like credit guarantee program, youth can lease land for agricultural ventures and be successful. Thus financial institutions need to develop appropriate financial products for the youth in Agriculture. Agriculture in itself is exposed to many challenges that include the adverse effects of the climate change and other vagaries of nature and thus there is need to support the youth training with credit guarantee program, climate resilient and conservation agriculture training programs as well as with incubation programs to kick-start their start -up agricultural projects but with clear outcomes and targets for accountability on their part.
A one off training is not enough for the young potential farmers, an integrated sustainable training program is what the youth need given their high mobility and dynamism at their life stage. They tend to loose interest very rapidly and thus a consistent training program that aligns with their progressive farming needs will help them remain focussed to the course. These include regular training on; entrepreneurship that helps them see business in agriculture, inculcating a savings culture as a means to wealth creation, Financial management for growing business in farming, agricultural value chain developments for high value product for increased return on their investments, learning on new and trending farming approaches/products, networking opportunities for peer learning, sustainable market access for their products among other sustaining training opportunities. Once the first batch of young farmers succeed in a particular area, they become the role models and mentors to others interested in agriculture. They are able to demonstrate that Agriculture is a valuable employer of choice and not employer of last resort as it is the case in most African Countries.
Otherwise youth and Agriculture holds the answer to the African growth & development and more so to the realisation of the Continent's prosperity.
Ms. Pauline Ngari