Escuchemos a los futuros agricultores de África

Jun 7, 2018 Roselyn Mugo

NAIROBI – África se encuentra en medio de una crisis de empleo juvenil. En el año 2035, se necesitarán 350 millones de nuevos puestos de trabajo, y la agricultura, el sector industrial más grande del continente, podría proporcionar la mayor parte de ellos. Pero en este momento, los jóvenes africanos están esquivando la vida en la granja para trabajar en la ciudad. Si se cierra la brecha de empleo en África, los agronegocios deben encontrar formas de reclutar manos más jóvenes.

Este desafío fue el punto central de mi investigación como parte del Youth Think Tank, una iniciativa de investigación liderada por jóvenes, que se lleva a cabo en colaboración con Restless Development Uganda y la Mastercard Foundation. En un informe reciente, examinamos las experiencias de jóvenes agricultores africanos en siete países. Y, lo que hallamos es que la mejor forma de cautivar a los jóvenes con el propósito de atraerlos y que regresen a las granjas es mejorando el acceso dichas granjas e involucrando en ellas tecnologías emergentes.

Muchos de los jóvenes con los que hablamos dijeron que su mayor obstáculo para una carrera en la agricultura es aprender las habilidades digitales y técnicas necesarias para tener éxito en el mercado agrícola actual. Debido a que tecnologías como la computación en la nube, los sensores del suelo y los drones meteorológicos están cambiando la forma como se producen, envasan y distribuyen los alimentos, la alfabetización digital es tan importante como la tierra cultivable y las semillas de alta calidad. Es lógico afirmar, por lo tanto, que si más jóvenes pudieran dominar estas habilidades digitales, más de ellos encontrarían trabajo en este campo.

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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.
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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/
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