Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

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    • What are the biggest challenges youth in Africa face after going through youth-specific capacity development initiatives in agriculture?

      Corruption and a bad case of misplaced priorities. A lot of youths interested in agriculture still need a sustenance during the start-up phase, in the absence of which t they settle for white collar jobs and end up lingering past the age of youth benefits.

      What are the examples of existing post-capacity development sustainability initiatives for youth in agriculture in Africa? What works and what does not? Are there any success stories and good practices that can be shared?

      I love a project between Leventis and FG in Nigeria here they run a one year internship, all-expense paid for the youth the challenge is that most qualified youths (interested and  passionate about agriculture) do not have the pre requisite of farm land and farm experience. In my opinion, it is quite foolish to be offering a one year training and expecting an applicant to be experience already, if a youth meets all their criteria, such youth would not be needing training, it is a similar situation with most agriculture support programs. you find out most beneficiaries are well positioned more as pen farmers (only farm with keypads and never actually see a farm operation) or youths looking to kill time pending when they get a white collar job not he actual intended beneficiaries.

      What post-capacity development support do the youth need? What can the youth do to support each other in developing their skills and capacities?

      I personally think vocation agriculture schools should be established in all states, where possible in each LGA and youths from junior Secondary Schools should be able to enrol even its just a summer holiday program. This would help many interested get familiar with modern systems like urban sack farming, organic farming etc...the serious ones can then be given access to lands till then can be independent.

      What enabling environment is needed to ensure sustainability of youth in agriculture capacity development initiatives?

      A serious reduction in the bureaucratic system, if a youth could pick up a form and be sure of been attended to, instead of going from one office to the other at government establishment with no result. I have mentioned before, the need to reduces and possibly eliminate monetising agriculture benefits...if a body wants to help, bring us machineries that can be leased, or given out, provide trucks for transporting goods on a schedule from farming communities to major cities/markets. Money in its raw element is yet to be of any good to young farmer

      Is there a role for modern technologies, including Information and Communication Technologies, in sustaining capacity development initiatives?

      A lot of youths are designing solutions for agriculture but they do not see the light of day because no one is listening, everyone is holding seminars but what is the support/feedback platform when a youth keys in and develops a solution for the sector. Instead, the elites try to buy the apps right off them before assisting them with anything thus discouraging them and causing them to look at more viable and flexible sectors like entertainment

    • What interventions do you think are needed to increase the agriculture sector resilience to environmental stressors, especially among smallholder farmers?

      Presently, in Nigeria it is easier for a well-established farm to get intervention that someone who has a land and a business plan with no heavy funds or assets in collateral

      One of the major issues with West African countries is that intervention comes in form of cash which are often diverted of misappropriated.

      A lot of awareness is need to make the small farmers see reason to change their ways and ensuring they get practical intervention is one of the many things needed.

      Most small scale farmers cannot afford the cost of machineries nor the cost of entry into the elite cooperatives that get easy access to interventions so they continue to toil for their meagre yield. Government intervention is often tied to empowering specific individuals.

      Let us assume that instead of giving an individual a tractor, the government gives a farming settlement and locals are able to lease at much reduced rates. This would encourage cooperation in choice of crops (planting, harvesting processing gets synchronized, and ensure the community as a whole is able to work with government policies and goals instead of individuals striving alone.

      Insisting on been part of a cooperative has not been working well as the administrators have also sabotaged the process often monetizing benefits to members...hence my suggesting Farm allotted settlements be identified and related with like Local Government Areas thus breaking barriers for everyone within the settlement.