Friday, July 12, 2013

Youth and Agriculture


Overview:
Agriculture is the mainstay of majority of the countries in Sub Saharan Africa. Agriculture and allied sectors contribute 30-50% or even more o these countries GDPs. Youth and even Agricultural graduates are still not attracted to Agriculture. This is despite the factor that Agricultural produce is still in high demand not just in Africa but also around the world. The world population is growing and at the moment stands at just above 7,0 Billion and Africa contributes just above 1.0 Billion. It is estimated that by 2050 the world population will be about 9.0 billion and Africa will have added 1.2 Billion or so. Africa is said to be holding about 60% of the world’s arable land. Thus, Africa has the opportunity to produce and engage in value addition to generate products to feed herself and even export. Remember at the moment, there is no substitute for food. In addition, Agriculture does provide an opportunity for diversification of economic activities in any country.

Based on this, views are sought on the given title.

Why are the youth including agricultural graduates shunning participation in agriculture? Give your opinion.
Prof. A. W. Mwang'ombe, Principal - CAVS

9 comments:

  1. Youths are keen on getting white color jobs after school.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Agriculture is influenced by a plethora of factors.

    From production to marketing, there are various issues that as a farmer you have to contend with. If its not fertilizer shortage, perhaps its low market demand and poor prices. The uncertainty of payments by government parastatals such as NCPB just worsens the situations.

    For a youth like me...full of ideas but limited in capital, you ought to evaluate before you think of investing your meager cash in agriculture. We do not enjoy the comfort of investing wherever we feel like since we don't have so much money going around.
    Even the lecturers who teach us on a daily basis on these agricultural concepts have nothing to show for it. A lecturer will tell you how you can make more than a Kshs. 100,000 thousand in a month but he/she doesn't have a practical example to show for it. Bottom line, were tired of theories and case studies, IF A FULLY PLEDGED PROFESSOR DOES NOT EVEN HAVE A 10 x 10 GREENHOUSE IN HIS/HER SPACIOUS KILELESHWA HOME,WHY SHOULD I SQUEEZE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN OUR 2 ACRE PIECE OF LAND FOR SOMETHING THAT MAY WORK BUT NEVER REALIZE RETURNS.

    The point has to be said, studying agriculture in University is one thing but practicing it out there is so different. Don't expect graduates to take-up the venture just because they studied agriculture. Life and the little cash we have are definitely not up for experiment!

    More so, even university projects run by Professors and Doctors do not motivate us to fully embark in Agriculture. Take the Field Station and Kibwezi for instance.....#just saying

    ReplyDelete
  3. Overview:
    Agriculture is the mainstay of majority of the countries in Sub Saharan Africa. Agriculture and allied sectors contribute 30-50% or even more o these countries GDPs. Youth and even Agricultural graduates are still not attracted to Agriculture. This is despite the factor that Agricultural produce is still in high demand not just in Africa but also around the world. The world population is growing and at the moment stands at just above 7,0 Billion and Africa contributes just above 1.0 Billion. It is estimated that by 2050 the world population will be about 9.0 billion and Africa will have added 1.2 Billion or so. Africa is said to be holding about 60% of the world’s arable land. Thus, Africa has the opportunity to produce and engage in value addition to generate products to feed herself and even export. Remember at the moment, there is no substitute for food. In addition, Agriculture does provide an opportunity for diversification of economic activities in any country.

    Based on this, views are sought on the given title.
    Prof. A. W. Mwang'ombe, Principal - CAVS

    ReplyDelete
  4. My experience with the youth in Eastern and Nyanza region, in the implementation of a Horticulture project, diverse opinion on why youth don't participate is varied. Youth want crops that takes shorter time to mature. First, We have a higher youth participation in the irrigation schemes such as Kibwezi, Makindu, Kabaa, and Oluch-Kimira in Homabay county. Rainfed crops such as Maize, pigeonpeas that takes longer time does not go well with the youth. They are impatient with long duration crop. Second, the land tenure system does not favor youth. The old men are not ready to let go the land to the youth fro crop production, having fear that the land will be sold or misused. A good example is farmers along Sondu Miriu river, in Oyugis, Homabay county. The old men in a group I work with have decided to hold the youth at ransom, even though the Mins. Of irrigation have installed the irrigation infrastructure. You need permission from the leaders of the group, who are majorly old men to access the pump and pipes, and even land. Third, Most of the agricultural production groups is composed of old people. In most cultures, the youth are not free to express themselves in such forums, where they share the podium with their mother and father. The alternative is to start their own, which could be expensive for registration, and most youth lack experience on group dynamics and management

    ReplyDelete
  5. Part 1 of the Q&A session after Mark Lynas finished his lecture:"unmasking the great gmo divide, perspectives from a former global anti-gm activist." 25 July, 2013, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi, Kenya:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guLyTCgCvVo&feature=youtu.be

    ReplyDelete
  6. Part 2 of the Q&A session after Mark Lynas finished his lecture:"unmasking the great gmo divide, perspectives from a former global anti-gm activist." 25 July, 2013, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi, Kenya:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hMSvVVuSIE

    ReplyDelete
  7. Youths want to work in offices where they are seen clean and nice looking, following the agricultural nature of farm work, they all think that farm work will make them soiled and dirty not bearing in mind that it's through agriculture that we are in this world today.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I would not wish to lay my blame on the graduates from the agricultural sector for shunning the same sector that should uplift them. Blame it on the government and some training institution that does not shade more light on the same. Based on this, it reminds me of a lecture by Prof. Ackello Ogutu while on my first year which brings to my attention on the MAPUTO DECLARATION OF 2003 by the African state presidents. 10% of the budget should be allocated to agriculture, does our governments do that? The youth needs more employment opportunities from this sector but to no avail a graduate has to take at least two to three years to absorbed by this said Kenyan government but as we all recall human needs are knocking at the door from time to time this graduates will then proceed on the other sectors of the economy where jobs are readily available. I was sharing with our current third years Agric. extension class, they are soon going to the field for their attachment but none of them would wish to be attached with the ministry of agriculture. Why? it is not attractive and we all know that extension agents are reading newspapers in offices instead of visiting farmers to boost agricultural production. The government has not provided enough funds to run their field trips. Remember the youth are active, innovative and would wish to come up with new ideas.
    Every other graduate would wish to be an agricultural entrepreneur. With the vast knowledge from CAVS its possible but initial capital is a problem. I think to mitigate this negative attitude all sectors should come together to support the youth in terms of grants, loans as well as proper linkages from the training institutions then this problem will be swept away

    ReplyDelete
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