Learning circles are giving young people in Zambia practical spaces to test composting, biopesticides, intercropping and agroforestry while exchanging knowledge about seeds, food and local farming traditions. Emerging from the Seed and Knowledge Initiative (SKI), these activities respond to challenges that include youth unemployment, climate variability, declining soil health and limited opportunities for young people within conventional agricultural systems.

Since 2023, youth groups have combined field experimentation with education, storytelling and community engagement. Demonstration plots have explored diverse cropping systems, while initiatives such as the “My Food is Zambian” campaign have promoted indigenous crops including sorghum, millet and cowpeas. Participants report that some young people have subsequently developed small enterprises around seed saving, organic inputs and value addition, while others have become involved in awareness-raising in schools and communities. The experience also identifies persistent barriers, particularly insecure access to land, limited affordable finance and negative perceptions of agriculture as a career.

The initiative highlights peer-to-peer learning, regional networks and partnerships with schools, civil society and traditional leaders as important components of youth engagement in agroecology. Looking ahead, participants emphasize stronger training, access to land and finance, digital tools and the integration of agroecology into education as enabling conditions for young people to develop viable livelihoods while contributing to more diverse and resilient food systems.