Beyond textbooks: Engaging youth in agriculture

Sir: Getting youth involved in agriculture is not as easy as one might think. The traditional approach to farming systems, absence of commercial extension services and lack of subject matter specialists to advise the youth on their farms, whether rain-fed, irrigation, or livestock, have deterred the youth.

Capacity building cannot be achieved through short workshops rather, it requires months of training to bridge the gap between theory and practical solutions needed for setup, especially considering that precision-driven smart agriculture is the way forward.

When considering the vast arable lands, it is evident that the land resources are located in rural settlements where community members may view youths as outsiders and sabotage the processes. Engaging the youth in agriculture as a means of livelihood is not as straightforward as one might think. The existing narrative portrays farmers as poor, which is not necessarily the case. Therefore, lamenting about fertilizer costs and diesel expenses for water pumping might not be entirely reflective of the reality for some established farmers. The targeted clientele often have enough resources to purchase the necessary inputs for production without relying on government subsidies, which are not sustainable for the government and farming communities in the long run.

Engaging youths in agriculture should be managed at the local government level, with oversight from state agricultural development projects under the Ministry of Agriculture. A strict Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) system should be in place to ensure that the desired goals are not deviated from by the youth.

One of the simplest ways to involve youth in farming is to target students in colleges and universities studying agriculture. For university students, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme could be replaced with an agricultural programme where beneficiaries receive capital as a loan to start agribusinesses. A similar approach could be taken for colleges and other educational institutions. Over time, as their peers witness the sustainable livelihoods practised by their friends in agriculture, earning income and enjoying luxuries, the momentum will build naturally.

Merely stating that we must encourage youth to engage in agriculture is not enough; it requires concrete actions and strategic planning to see tangible results in a timely manner.

Hamza Kamilu Hamza.