Ouvir os futuros agricultores de África

Jun 7, 2018 Roselyn Mugo

NAIROBI - O continente africano atravessa uma crise de emprego juvenil. Em 2035, cerca de 350 milhões novos empregos serão necessários, e a agricultura, a maior indústria do continente poderá suprir a maior parte destes postos de trabalho. No entanto, neste momento, os jovens africanos abandonam as zonas rurais para trabalhar nas cidades. Para colmatar a lacuna de emprego em África, o agronegócio deve encontrar formas de recrutar mão-de-obra juvenil.

Este desafio foi o foi o tema central do meu trabalho de investigação no âmbito do Grupo de Reflexão para a Juventude, uma iniciativa de investigação liderada por jovens em parceria com a Restless Development Uganda e a Mastercard Foundation. Num relatório elaborado recentemente, analisámos as experiências de jovens agricultores africanos em sete países. Concluímos que a melhor forma de atrair os jovens para as zonas rurais consiste em melhorar o acesso e a utilização das tecnologias emergentes.

Muitos dos jovens com quem falámos afirmaram que o maior obstáculo que se coloca a efectuar uma carreira na agricultura consiste em desenvolver as competências digitais e técnicas necessárias para ter sucesso no mercado agrícola. Numa época em que as tecnologias como a computação em nuvem, os sensores do solo e os drones meteorológicos alteram a forma como os alimentos são produzidos, embalados e distribuídos, a literacia digital é tão importante quanto as terras aráveis e as sementes de alta qualidade. É, por conseguinte, lógico, que se um número mais elevado de jovens dominasse as competências digitais, muitos deles encontrariam trabalho no sector agricultura.

To continue reading, register now.

Subscribe now for unlimited access to everything PS has to offer.

As a registered user, you can enjoy more PS content every month – for free.

Already have an account? Log in

Subscribe to PS Digital

Access every new PS commentary, our entire On Point suite of subscriber-exclusive content – including Longer Reads, Insider Interviews, Big Picture/Big Question, and Say More – and the full PS archive.

Subscribe Now

new comment has been posted. new comments have been posted.

0 Comments on this paragraph, 3 Comments on this article

j. von Hettlingen Jun 11, 2018

Roselyn Mugo is calling for a modernisation of farming methods in Africa and a replacement of its ageing workforce. The average age of an African farmer is about 60, while 60% of the population is under the age of 24. An overhaul would help boost youth employment, and feed the continent’s rising population, which is expected to double by 2050, bringing it to over 2 billion people. The question is how to inspire young Africans to work the land, when they flee en masse for the cities or for Europe in search of work and better livelihoods. Increasingly educated, they see farming as a low income status and many have no appetite to take over family farms.
The author says “if Africa’s employment gap is to be closed, agribusinesses must find ways to recruit younger hands.” She points out that “some 350 million new jobs” need to be created by 2035. As agriculture is the continent’s biggest industry, it “could provide the bulk of them.” Yet based on the current development, the continent’s food production system would meet only 13% of its needs in three decades. The number of hungry people may soon reach 300 million – according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. Over 40% of children under five years old are stunted due to malnutrition.
Moreover crop yields have been largely stagnant over the past 50 years, and less than 6% of agriculture across Africa is irrigated. Due to years of planting crops without replacing nutrients; fertiliser use is by far the lowest in the world with most farmers unable to afford it. The author points out the “competition for land,” that leads to smaller plots when allocated. “To remain profitable, younger growers must produce larger crops from smaller spaces, which requires innovation.” It is crucial to encourage them to run commercially beneficial farms using modern technology.
Experts say, with a uniquely diverse climate and more than half the world’s uncultivated arable land, Africa has the natural resources to drive a boom in agriculture that can lift millions out of poverty. Yet the right economic conditions need to be created, like granting “youth-driven innovations” all the “necessary political or financial backing to make them viable and scalable”. It requires conviction to apprehend that agriculture has the potential to power Africa’s economic transformation.
The author says, “despite having great ideas, most young agricultural innovators do not feel supported in their efforts. Young people can help solve Africa’s unemployment challenges, but those closest to the problem have yet to be made part of the solution.” Not to overlook are the myriad problems in the agricultural sector that include poor infrastructure, making transportation of goods difficult. Ongoing conflicts in certain regions make large tracts of land inaccessible. Good governance and political stability are other important factors that contribute to economic development.
No doubt increasing productivity on farms would improve the incomes and livelihoods of about 60-70% of people, and agriculture could help develop an industry that would create jobs and generate revenues. But it requires political will and stability to oversee a set of reforms and programmes of support that make farming a sustainable business. If the young and educated people could be persuaded to take up farming, it would help create a new class of medium-scale, modern African farmers. The author says, “to breathe new life into Africa’s farms, the entire industry must innovate.” The political establishment and the society need to change their vews and show recognition and regard for those working on the farms.
- Roselyne Mugo Aug 2, 2018
  
  The solutions to some of what have been cited in the article were cited by the late Professor Calestous Juma who argued that farming in Africa can only become profitable once it has been industrialized.
  The workforce in the agricultural sector in Kenya is aging with the sector as most young people would rather sell their parcels of land to move into informal settlements in urban areas for somewhat 'formal jobs'.
  I agree with your sentiments on the need to provide economic conditions. Professor Juma approaches the issue by arguing on the role that the private sector can play in improving the agricultural sector. Are agricultural companies providing incentives to young people to engage in the sector? Are we still observing the exportation of food produce in most countries where value addition does not take place? Are we still stuck in the mass production of farm produce without vale addition processing which leads to more produce but less costs?
  All these factors call to action the industrialization of the 'aging and rainfall dependent' agricultural sector.
  Thank you for the views and I hope you have a look at the report and will be able to share your insights on it.
  A new reply to this comment has been posted.
A new reply to this comment has been posted.
Marc Laventurier Jun 7, 2018

"There is currently a growing realization of the rubber might of the African region where most countries still have massive unexploited areas highly conducive for natural rubber. This is likely to lead to the dawn of a new era of fresh investments in NR without affecting the environment and interests of the local population." See: https://www.rubberasia.com/2017/05/22/untapped-africa/
A new reply to this comment has been posted.

https://prosyn.org/t6wY2uXpt

Ouvir os futuros agricultores de África

Subscribe to PS Digital

New Comment

Contact us

Log in/Register

Ouvir os futuros agricultores de África

Subscribe to PS Digital

Edit Newsletter Preferences

Set up Notification