Content
17
19

STATEMENTOF PROBLEMSCOPE OFTHE STUDY

05
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY10
INTRODUCTION
Agriculture in Africa

THE FUTURE
OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE -AN ASSESSMENT OF
THE ROLE OF YOUTH
AND TECHNOLOGY

Youths and Agriculture
The emergence of theAgric-Tech sector

18
AIMS ANDOBJECTIVES

20

22

RESEARCH
AND DESIGN:PRESENTATION
OF FINDINGSDATA ANDMETHODOLOGY21
RESULTS

26

65

COUNTRY
PROFILESCONCLUSION

Ethiopia
Kenya
RwandaTanzania
UgandaNigeria
Ghana
SenegalMalawi
ZambiaZimbabwe

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

4

AFDB

African Development Bank

AFD

Agence Française de Développement

CCAFS

CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change

CGAP

Consultative Group to Assist the PoorCIA

Central Intelligence Agency

FAO

Food and Agriculture Organisations

GDP

Gross Domestic Product

ILO

International Labour Organisation

IFAD

International Fund for Agricultural Development

NPC

National Population Council

OEC

Observatory of Economic Complexity

PWC

PricewaterhouseCoopers

SNV

Netherlands Development Organisation

SMS

Short Message Service

UN

United Nations

UNDP

United Nations Development Programme

WFPWorld Food Programme

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY

01
AGRICULTURE CONTRIBUTES HEAVILY TO THE

EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY

GDP OF MANY AFRICAN COUNTRIES AND IT
EMPLOYS MORE THAN HALF OF THE RURALPOPULATION ACROSS THE CONTINENT. IN
PLACES LIKE GHANA, ETHIOPIA, KENYA,
MALAWI, AND ZAMBIA, THE CONTRIBUTION OF
AGRICULTURE TO THE ECONOMY HAS CREATEDSOME POSITIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH.
In Ethiopia for instance, Agriculture is the backbone of the70%

OF THE POPULATION
IN ETHIOPIA WORKS IN
AGRICULTURE AND IT IS THEBACKBONE OF THE ECONOMY

52%

OF GHANA’S POPULATION IS
EMPLOYED IN AGRICULTURE

20%

OF ZAMBIA’S GDP
IS CONTRIBUTED BY
AGRICULTURE, AND IT
EMPLOYS 54.8% OF THE
POPULATION

economy as it employs over 70% of the population. In Ghana,agriculture employs 52% of the workforce and accounts for 17% of
the GDP. In Zambia, agriculture contributes 20% of the GDP and
employs 54.8% of the population. This contribution is evident across
many African countries. Despite the positive effect of agriculture
across the continent, the sector remains unattractive to young
people. Many young Africans move to the urban areas and have nointerest in taking up agriculture as a source of livelihood.
The rural population comprising mostly smallholder farmers
practices subsistence farming, and for many, there is a lot of
uncertainty that comes with farming. Issues like climate change,lack of technology, illiteracy, and access to opportunities pose agreat threat to their source of income.

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY5

Many of these farmers, despite

Innovators have begun to rely on technology suchtheir years of farming experience,as artificial intelligence, remote sensing, geographic

are faced with the problem of

information softwares, virtual reality, drone technology,

low productivity caused by aapplication programming interface technology andcombination of adverse climatic

precision technology to provide an accurate measure of

conditions and harmful farm

rainfall, pest control, soil information, soil productivity,

practices. Even though smallholder

and farm size and productivity potential. In Africa, there

farmers are faced with the problem

have been innovations to help farmers produce and earnof low productivity, they havemore. Startups like ThriveAgric in Nigeria, Grainpulse

found it difficult to adopt thein Uganda, Agrocenta in Ghana and Agriprofocus intechnology that will help them

Tanzania are using technology to improve the capacity

scale their farms and remove theof the agriculture sector in Africa. Despite this potential

uncertainty attached to their meansof technology to change Africa’s agriculture sector,of livelihood.

smallholder farmers are faced with the challenge ofthere is affordability in the cost to adopting technology.
Innovation in agriculture will act as a pulling power for

every stakeholder in the agriculture sector as it will create

opportunities for young people to participate more, increase
productivity for smallholder farmers and create a positive
economic climate that will benefit businesses greatly.

incorporating technology in their agricultural practices.

TECHNOLOGY IS
REVOLUTIONIZINGEVERY SECTOR ACROSSTHE GLOBE, AND THE
AGRICULTURE SECTOR IS
NO DIFFERENT. THEREARE NEW INVENTIONSIN THE SECTOR THATHAVE THE POTENTIAL TO
INCREASE AGRICULTURE
PRODUCTIVITY ON THE
CONTINENT.

To fully understand the perception of stakeholders
towards these problems, a research study was carriedout to survey youths, smallholder farmers and agriculture
technology organisations in 11 countries.
The goal was to understand the lack of interest in
agriculture among the youth, the reasons behind low
productivity and low technology adoption amongsmallholder farmers, the barriers to technology adoption
and the innovation in agriculture on the continent.
This study surveyed these stakeholders in addition to
conducting desktop research on the eleven countries infocus.
The research suggests that efforts geared towards
providing financial capital, capacity building andaccess to land will spur the youths’ interest in

agriculture. Smallholder farmers will embracetechnology if their capacity is developed and6

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY

04

STARTUPS USINGTECH TO IMPROVECAPACITY OF
AGRICULTURE IN
AFRICA

Perception Of African Youth Towards
Agriculture
Youth are a vibrant demographic, and in many countries they
make up the largest number in terms of population. Many are
unemployed or underemployed, and there is a shift to urban
migration because of lack of opportunities in rural areas. Their
perception towards agriculture suggests that lack of fundingis the biggest barrier towards their interest in the sector. Thereis also the need to increase their capacity as many do nothave the required knowledge or skills to take advantage ofthe potential of the agriculture sector. Access to technology isanother challenge for this group, and innovation in the sector
will create change in the perception of youth and transformtheir mindset about the sector.

Agric-Tech Adoption Among Smallholder
Engaged In Agriculture
Many smallholder farmers face the challenge of lowtech adoption and this creates a circle of low agricultural
productivity, hampering their ability to innovate to produce
more. Low technology adoption is also noticeable among
young farmers as short messaging service (SMS) technology
accounts for the only type of technology employed on farms.
The solution to this is education that relies on introducing
farmers to technology and its potential application in the
agriculture sector. Education on innovation in agriculture
and its effects on yields and income will motivate farmers
to adopt technology in their farming. Affordability and easeof use of technology is a key factor to consider due to thesocioeconomic and literacy conditions of the farmers.

YOUTH
THE FUTURE
AND SMALLHOLDER
OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE -FARMERSAN ASSESSMENT
IN AGRIC-TECH
OF THEROLE OF YOUTH AND
IN AFRICATECHNOLOGYREPORT

7

Innovation In
Agriculture

Critical Success Factor Of Technology
Solution In The Agriculture Sector

Business And Education Stakeholders
Are Vital For Agriculture Revamp

Technological innovations have helped smallholder

Development of technology and innovative solutions

These stakeholders such as agribusinesses, agric-techin agriculture will attain a step towards continental

startups, agriculture research institutes, innovation

popularity if bottlenecks facing business andhubs, agriculture-focused non-profits and indigenous

youth stakeholders can be addressed. Access to

private enterprises will create a development

capital, human resource/employment, working

pathway for smallholder farmers and youths. These

capital and regulatory and policy environments

organisations are part of vital networks of farmers

have to be addressed to encourage businesses andon the continent, and are the first step towards

young people to develop innovative solutions for

introducing any technology or innovation to thethe agriculture sector. Solutions developed after

farmers. Due to their track record, confidence andbottlenecks have been addressed will be geared

trust has been developed and they serve as the ears

towards addressing low productivity, irrigationand eyes of many smallholder farmers. Trust is vital

problems, changing environment, access to finance,

towards encouraging smallholder farmers to adopt

access to markets and literacy among farmers. A

new technology, and the business and education

combination of innovative solutions and empowered

stakeholders have gained the trust of farmers as asmallholder farmers will create a ripple effect on the

result of years of working in the local communities.

farmers solve many agriculture related issues. The
impact of technology is evident in terms of providing
information about weather and climate, input supply,
smart farming technology and information services.
Other areas where technology has impacted farmers
include digital finance, precision farming tools,
storage technology and agriculture ecommerce.
Although these areas are still in their infant stagesof impact, the farmers have evidence of its usability
and potential. Innovation in agriculture will beembraced through a combination of education,
information access, and capital. Strong linkages haveto be developed between the smallholder farmers,
agric-tech startups, research institutes, international
funders, youth and governments for a greater impact
of innovation on the sector.

8

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY

economy of many African countries.

RECOMMENDATIONSFOOD INSECURITY IN THE CONTINENT
CONTINUES TO GROW AT A DISTURBING
RATE. SMALLHOLDER FARMERS ON THE
CONTINENT HAVE LIMITED ACCESSTO IMPROVED FARMING TECHNIQUES,MARKETS, AND INPUTS. AFRICA’S YOUNG
POPULATION IS A KEY DETERMINANT INSUPPORTING THE FOOD SECURITY ISSUESTHE CONTINENT FACES. THIS RESEARCH
CLEARLY SHOWS THAT YOUNG PEOPLEHAVE A KEEN INTEREST IN AGRICULTURE,
UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OFTECHNOLOGY AND ARE CONSIDERING
WORKING IN THE SECTOR.
The challenges and barriers they face are herculean,from lack of access to land, adequate skills set,sustainable financing and access to markets that ensurea fair price. The recommendations proffered are notexhaustive and consider existing programmes by Heifer
International.
A review of existing programmes targeted at smallholder
farmers and youths must be conducted to determine if
the current strategies support the African farmer withthe use of technology. Innovation must be viewed within
the context of the current realities.

Beyond a smart app, providing linkages to local andregional markets will go a long way in improving thefinancial bottom-line of every farmer.

The importance of creating a bespoke-country specificmarketplace, both virtual and physical where farmers
and off takers can connect is important.

Digital literacy must be a key consideration.
Smallholder farmers in rural areas will not have accessto smartphones or internet access. However a basic
phone is a good starting point in introducing the use oftechnology, through weekly SMS on prevailing market
prices and best input bargains.

Online branding and marketing communications are
key. Establishing a digital presence on social media inorder to aid marketing across various locations is an
important step which can support product sales.

Youths with a keen interest in agric-tech must work
collaboratively with smallholder farmers to get a better
understanding of their challenges and how to provide
sustainable and affordable solutions. There is a need tocapture data to provide evidence-based results on theimmediate benefit and long term impact of the use oftechnology by smallholder farmers.
The importance of training and mentoring programmes
was strongly echoed. The importance of hand-holding
young farmers is critical to their success. Training
programmes must include exchange programmes,
internships, and mentoring. Mentors with agriculture
and business start-up experience must be engaged
to support youth programmes in a structured andmeasurable manner.
Stakeholder engagement with governments to provide
access to land, tax waivers and fiscal policies that
deliberately support youths in the sector should be acomponent of every programme. Youths who took partin the focus group discussions stressed their lack ofaccess to markets to sell their produce.

Access to opportunities which drives innovation is
key in motivating youths’ involvement in Agric-Tech.
Sustainable opportunities such as competitions
which reward participants with the means to carrytechnological innovations are important for youths
interested in agric-tech and smallholder farmers.
This research emphasises the need for in-depth datacollection on smallholder farmers in Africa. This will
aid evidence-based innovation localised for their use.
Creating an agric-tech solution in itself is an end toa means, but a careful process test-run before full
adoption is quite important.
Innovation in agriculture will drive growth in Africancountries. Encouraging innovation by supporting
programmes geared towards accelerating agric-techstartups, youth-owned agriculture businesses, and otherbusiness stakeholders along the agriculture value chain
will serve as a catalyst for economic development in
Africa.

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY9

02
INTRODUCTION

AGRICULTURE IN AFRICA
Agriculture is a major mainstay in Africa. Over the years, thecontinent’s socio-economic boost has been focused on agriculture.
About 23% of the gross domestic product of sub-SaharanAfrica comes from agriculture1, and the figure stands at 32%
for the continent. The agricultural sector accounts for the highemployment of almost two-thirds of citizens in Africa. Despite thegrowth of agriculture, there are still untapped and uncultivatedaspects of agriculture in Africa. The continent still falls among poor
nations in agriculture despite having about 60% of uncultivatedfarmland. Large swaths of land remain undeveloped with low
productivity compared to the rest of the world2.

10

1

McKinsey & Company, 2019.https://www.mckinsey.com/indutries/agriculture/our-insights/winning-in-africas-agricultural-market

2

FAO 2017.http://www.fao.org/family-farming/detail/en/c/1028928

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGYAfrica’s focus on specific aspects of agriculture remains a major problem facing the
agricultural sector. Agricultural practices throughout African countries differ. These practices
differ due to disparities in climatic and environmental conditions, for example. Agricultural

The use of tech and information has
improved decision making in my recently(July 2020) established cocoa farm
specifically in areas of nursery, planting
date, soil moisture conservation andperiod of pest (termite) infestations.
Philip Kwofie
Smallholder farmer - Ghana

practices in dry regions of North Africa differ significantly from practices in tropical rain forestsof Central Africa. The cultural conditions of each country in Africa also affects agricultural
practices. Agricultural practices in Africa range from crop farming to livestock farming. Peasantand subsistence farming are the basic form of agriculture in most parts of the continent.
Commercial farming in Africa has not grown as much as subsistence farming has developed
over time in this region.
Lots of factors accumulate to hinder the growth of agriculture in Africa. In Africa, most aspectsof agriculture still depend largely on rainfall for farming, and the effects of climate change andare threatening the benefits the continent can reap from agriculture. Only about 6% of lands
practice irrigation farming as compared to other developing agricultural nations in Asia3. Thishigh dependence on rainfall agriculture results in low output.

ACCORDING TO AN OXFORD BUSINESS GROUP REPORT, AFRICA
STANDS A CHANCE TO ERADICATE FOOD POVERTY AND DEVELOPECONOMIES THROUGH AGRICULTURE BUT NOT WITHOUT SOLVING
THE PROBLEMS FACING ITS AGRICULTURAL SECTOR4.
Factors like poor governance, lack of investment, low use of fertilizers, better seed type, low useof mechanized farming all contribute to the lower rate of agricultural productivity in Africa.
In comparison to other developing nations and as a continent with the largest expanse of
uncultivated land, the prospects of agriculture eradicating poverty, ensuring food security, andproviding job opportunities is lower than possible.
Sub-Saharan Africa majorly has faced numerous challenges in its agricultural sector in the past
decades. They include accelerated population growth, climate change, increased urbanisation,

3

Africa Agriculture Statistics Report, 2018.http://agra.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/AASR-2018

4

Oxford Business Group, 2019.https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/blogs/souhir-mzali/focus-reports/agriculture-africa-2019-special-report

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY

11

and chronic food insecurity. Commendable

over the past thirty years, the nations of theefforts have been made to bring about changes

continent have experienced steady populationin these areas over the years. Among theseincrease. The effect of this is that more people

efforts is the Malabo Declaration of 2014 whereneed to be fed with little output since agriculture

decisions were made to direct concerted efforts

in this part of the world is for subsistence rather

to achieve accelerated agricultural growth andthan exportation. For a continent with boomingtransformation.

agricultural practices, exports run low at around
8% of world agricultural export7. With foreign

An increase in agricultural productivity will likewise

investment and external financial flows in the past

help most Africans maintain a better livelihood as

years, the level of impact is increasing and shouldfood insecurity and poverty would be tackled5.

soon be noticeable.

Other laudable efforts can be noticed with the

The COVID-19 outbreak of 2020 had its toll on thecommitment of the African Heads of State andagenda to feed 9 billion by 2025. The pandemic

Governments to provide means of tapping into

proved that globalization links the world together.

agriculture to end hunger, reduce post-harvest

Progress of African agricultural activities into

losses, and enhance nutrition by 20256.

modernity will largely fall on their contribution to
global food security8. Involving modern practices

Despite all the efforts to ensure that agriculture

will create a pathway for Africa to curb foodhas a good standing in Africa, little or noinsecurity and poverty. More progress can also

progress has been recorded in the labour andbe achieved with the involvement of the largest

land production factors. Focus is based on non-group in the population — youth — in all phases ofmechanized farming and the use of a large labor

agriculture.

force which do not generate reckonable change.
Similarly, population growth has further hampered
all efforts to achieve the best in the African
agricultural sector. In both urban and rural areas,

12

5

NEPAD 2019,https://www.nepad.org/caadp/publication/agriculture-africa-transformation-and-outlook

6

FAO 2016-2017, Africa’s commitment to end hunger by 2025.http://www.fao.org/africa/perspectives/end-hunger/en/

7

Agriculture in Africa, 2017.https://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/agriculture-africa-potential-versus-reality /57635/

8

Solidaridad 2020.http://www.solidaridadnetwork.org/news/preparing-africas-agriculture-for-the-future/

9

FAO 2018.http://www.fao.org/e-agriculture/news/future-africa%E2%80%99s-agriculture-rests-youth

10

YPARD 2018.https://yaprd.net/2018-01-31/how-can-african-youth-transform-agricultural-sector

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGYYOUTHS AND AGRICULTURE
Young people under the age of 25 account for
about 60% of the African population. According
to the UN, there are about 1.8 billion young people
between ages 10 to 24 in the world. Out of theestimates, Africa is home to over 200 million ofthese young people. The rate is increasing and is
expected to grow by 20359. These large groups inthe population are of working age.
The population growth in Africa is attributed
to increasing life expectancy and lower death
rates especially among young people10. The childmortality rate has tremendously decreased andfertility rates among Africans remain high. The
result of this is the current youthful population in
Africa. With the population rise, job opportunities
should also increase. The agriculture sector holds
high potential in providing job opportunities for
African youths. The potentials and benefits ofagriculture remain untapped especially by theyounger citizens of the continent.

Projected youth population by region 11
As reported in the International Labour

Projections

500

Organisation’s World Employment
and Social Outlook in 2016, youth
unemployment rates, job insecurity,

450

and poverty are at the peak with little
signs of change12. There is an urgent

400

need for African communities to350

engage this population for greater
agricultural growth. With the rapidly300

growing population of young people
in Africa and increasing youth

250

unemployment rates, agriculture can200

become a sustainable response to150

inclusive13. Agriculture, as an economic

youth unemployment especially as it ismainstay of many African countries,

100

can sufficiently employ the growing
majority of unemployed young people50

as skilled and semi-skilled labour.

0

The sector opens up great potential
1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

Eastern Asia

Middle East and North Africa

South-Central Asia

Latin America and the Caribbean

South-Eastern Asia and Oceania

Europe and Northern America

Sub-Saharan Africa

2030

2040

2050

2100

for accelerating growth and providing
job opportunities for a large youth
population. Since the need for foodsecurity and domestic and global fooddemand keeps increasing, agriculture
can rise as a valuable employer oflabour.

1

11

Food & Business Knowledge Platform 2015 Youth employment and agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa

12

ILO, 2016.https://www.ilo.org/global/research/global-reports/weso/2016/lang-en/index.htm

13

CCAFS, 2017.https://ccafs.cgiar.org/news/youth-involvement-agribusiness-examples-africa

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY

13

Agriculture is aprocess. So, if wewant agriculture to beinstilled in people, it
has to start from earlychildhood.

Agriculture likewise remains a valuable part of economic

Agribusiness is a promising solution to solve the unemployment

growth. For African transformation, agriculture is a necessary

issue facing African youths. By agribusiness, we refer to suchand realistic option.

ventures that revolve around agriculture. Employment response
from agriculture would not only focus on farming but include

AFRICAN LEADERS PLAN TO PROVIDEEMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMINIMUM OF 30% OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR BY 2025.

Bruno Tembo

This promise is laudable until the milestone can be achieved.

Education Advisor - Zambia

Several factors are challenging the involvement of young people
in agriculture. Most young ones in the continent consider
agriculture as the profession of the old. Despite having a medianage of 19 years old, the average farmers’ age in Africa is 60
years old14. Most young people regard agriculture as ineffective,socially immobile, and technologically bland. The change tourbanization and urban migration further stresses this point15.
Besides, those who seem interested find themselves battlingwith invaluable and existing policy processes. Their economic
potentials and contributions to the agricultural sector are
hampered by these policies. Lots of young people experience
difficulties accessing land, loans, and innovations in agriculture.
The question is not just about getting farmlands for youths
to farm, but about creating productive opportunities in the
agricultural sector for youth involvement.

processing, packaging, transporting, marketing, distribution, andfinancial services16.
Recently, some youths are beginning to see the wide benefitsof agriculture that go beyond subsistence farming. It has moved
from the “old people’s occupation” to what young people
now find lucrative. Nonetheless, more work is needed. The
government in each African country is to depict agribusiness tothe youth as a reputable and respected field. Most importantly,
the government should create capital backings to the interestof the youths in agriculture. To make agriculture more viable forthe young people, government or responsible agribusinesses
should provide funding for them.
Other issues that hinder the engagement of young people
in agriculture are the low productivity and profitability of thesector. As much as agriculture looks lucrative, it does not provide
total productivity. The present state and future of agriculture
in Africa will be dependent on the level of innovation gearedat the value chain17. Innovations will come in aspects of newpolicies and programs that will help young people get a new
outlook on agriculture. Governments like Burkina Faso, Ethiopia,
and Rwanda who have created the link between agricultural
growth and productivity are rapidly reducing poverty in theirregions. The growth of agricultural productivity connects toother aspects of the economy.

14

14

YALI Voices.https://yali.state.gov/yali-voices-youth-as-catlysts-for-agricultural-transformation-in-africa/

15

UN Youth Envoy 2016.https://www.un.org/youthenvoy/2016/04/why-are-rural-youth-leaving-farming/

16

Kiisah Consulting, 2021. https://www.kiisahconsulting.com/agricultur-for-african-youth/

17

Feed the Future, 2017. Engaging African Youth In Agriculture

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGYWhen we talk of a
farmer, the picture wehave in mind is a poor
man....it is about timethat we begin seeing
farming, or we begin
seeing the farmer as
a competent person
or someone who canbring money or farming
as something that canbring money home

Lack of adequate training also stands as a barrier to youth

All these with necessary major shifts in power dynamics andinvolvement in agriculture. Young people in the rural areas,

perceptions21.

where we still have the expanse of land, have little or noknowledge of new agricultural technologies and agribusiness18.
Some agricultural agencies in the past years and recently areproviding necessary training for young people in Africa. These
trainings and support are to enable young people to develop
their leadership skills and vital knowledge19. For instance, The
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture’s (IITA) Youth
Agripreneurs (IYA) trained youths on changing their perceptionof agriculture. They are trained to view agriculture in their“definition of cool business” and as a profitable business.
Other initiatives like the Mali Agribusiness Hub, ENABLE Youth
Program, DINFEL, YEAP, and CADER have offered training on
different aspects of agriculture to youths in Africa.
Furthermore, as new aspirations are growing in the heartof youths in Africa, the government and private sector canJustice Anertey

strengthen these aspirations by projecting some efforts of youth

Agripreneur - Ghana

agribusiness in Africa, enhancing learning and information,
supporting youth agribusiness projects, and investing in youth
agribusiness in the rural areas20. The 2017 World Food Prizelaureate, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, stated that the future of
Africa’s youth lies in agriculture. However, it may be just astatement, not an act, if there is no involvement of the saidgroup. Involving more youth in agriculture and agribusiness is
crucial to help African countries achieve development goals.

18

CCAFS, 2017.https://ccafs.cgiar.org/news/youth-involvement-agribusiness-examples-africa

19

SciDevNet 2020.Africa’s youth want to cultivate careers, not just crops - Sub-Saharan Africa

20

MDPI, 2019.https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/1/185/pdf

21

CCAFS, 2017.https://ccafs.cgiar.org/news/youth-involvement-agribusiness-examples-africa

22

AFDB (AEB), 2017. https://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Publications/AEB_Volume_8Issue_3.pdf

23

AFDB.https://www.afdb.org/en/topics-and-sectorss/agriculture-agro-industries/bank-group-vision

24

Campi, M. 2017. “The Effect of Intellectual Property Rights on Agricultural Productivity.” Agricultural Economics 48 (3): 327–39.

THE EMERGENCE OF THE
AGRIC-TECH SECTOR
Agriculture has been identified as the main driving force for
African development and this sector has undergone numerous
transformations22. Achieving food security has become a top
agenda of governments in Africa as this has been linked tothe survival of the developing nations. The United Nations, inrecognition of the role food security plays in the sustenance ofnations, developed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
whose goal 2 seeks to achieve global food security.
There is a transformation going on in the agricultural
sector in Africa. Technology has been at the heart of thesetransformations and several innovations have emerged to causea radical change in the Agricultural sector. Innovations haveemerged to disrupt the way agriculture is done in Africa tomitigate the numerous problems that the African agricultural
sector faces yearly23. Several innovations that are based on thetechnological advancement witnessed in the aspect of ICT
have been adopted in the agriculture sector to help improveyield and provide a better farming experience for the farmer toachieve food security24.

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
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Technologies such as cloud computing, open-

source software, aerial imagery from drones orsatellites, improved weather forecast and soil
sensors that provide farmers with the correct
information to ensure that the yields are

improved to meet up with the outlook of thecurrent government projections as regards foodproduction25.

Several solutions have been developed to address
the problems faced by agriculture in Africa. An
example is the digitalisation for agriculture (D4Ag
solution) which has been thought to be a gamechanger on the African scene for the transformation
and acceleration of agriculture across Africa27. The
D4Ag solutions offer farmers access to informationthat allows them to achieve a variety of goals by
providing information on how farmers can optimize
their production process, access products andAgritech is the triple N for sustainable
development (Nigeria’s New Normal).
Tolu Ajayi - Agripreneur - Nigeria

services and explore new markets. All of these areprovided by the fact that the D4Ag solution collects
and analyzes data to forecast farming and market

loans the farmers get. Other companies in Africa havebegun to engage in the use of innovative technologies
to solve the problems farmers face in Africa and to
improve farmers’ production levels. Aerobotics is aSouth African company that provides a farm solutionthat makes use of an Artificial Intelligence program
coupled with drones to help farmers manage theirfarms and provide an early warning system that
identifies problems at a very early stage29.

Furthermore, there have been certain digitalfor farmers in that country. This ensures that farmers

countries in Africa have access to financial products

fact that to sustain the growth of agriculturalthat can help to improve their farm productions.

productivity in Africa, farmers are enjoined toOrganisations like the One Acre Fund in East Africa

become more proactive in adopting the ever-ensures that farmers are given loans to help themincreasing modern farming methods andacquire the needed farm inputs that ensure thattechnologies that help to improve farm yield,

the farmers’ level of productivity is greatly increased,

provide more efficient input, adopt new andprovide training programs for farmers on how to use

improved crop and production systems, conserve

these improved inputs in a bid to maximize return

natural resources and improve the quality of theiron investment and ultimately provides market

products .

facilitation that ensures profit maximization28.

25

ClimateAction, 2018.New technology is transforming Africa’s agricultural industry

26

Fuglie, Keith, Madhur Gautam, Aparajita Goyal, and William F. Maloney. 2020. Harvesting Prosperity: Technology and Productivity Growth in Agriculture.
Washington, DC: World Bank. doi:10.1596/978-1-4648-1393-1. License: Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0 IGO

27

Addom, B. K., Kermah, M., & Chavez-Tafur, J. (2020). CTA-Project Completion Report D4Ag report.

28

Ndung’u, N. (2018). New frontiers in Africa’s digital potential. Harnessing Africa’s Digital Potential: New Tools for a New Age–Foresight Africa Report.

29

Kotze, C. (2019). Sub-Saharan Africa: “Info-Agritech” a Potential Game Changer. In Embedding Space in African Society (pp. 51-64). Springer, Cham.

30

Signé, L. (2018). The potential of manufacturing and industrialization in Africa: trends, opportunities, and strategies.

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY

allows for a flexible and easy way of repaying the

There is also an agritech start-up in Ghana called

programs that ensure that farmers in certain

16

partnered with the digital platform M-Pesa which

trends that are beneficial to the farmers.

Fuglie, Gautam, Goyal, and Maloney stress the26

It is important to mention that One Acre Fund

Acquahmeyer, which has established a drone service
now have round-the-clock monitoring of their farms
and provides a very efficient crop pest control platformthat ensures the health of the crops is well managed.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation,

the agricultural market in Africa will grow from $200
million in 2015 to $1 trillion by 2030, and Agritech

companies have been identified as the backbone forthe expansion30.

THE AGRITECH SCENE IN AFRICA
IS DEVELOPING THE CAPACITY TO
MEET THE NEEDS OF SMALLHOLDERFARMERS AND ULTIMATELY ENSURE
THE CONTINENT BECOMES AN
AGRICULTURAL POWERHOUSE.

03
STATEMENTOF PROBLEM

In many countries of Africa, the agriculture sector is the biggest
employer of labour and contributes greatly to their gross•Why is agriculture not an attractive sector
for young Africans who are early adopters oftechnology?

•

How can programmes attract young African
innovators to solve problems for smallholder
farmers (SHFs) in the agricultural sector?

•

What are the limitations and barriers foryouth in considering agriculture as a career
choice?

•Identify African youths with home-growntechnology and innovation solutions which
will protect smallholders from the effectof climate change and reduce the physicalefforts required to increase productivity anddomestic product. For instance, in Ghana, the agriculture sector
contributes 17% to the GDP and employs more than 52% of the
population. In Zambia, it contributes 20% to the GDP and in
Ethiopia this contribution is at 34.1%. The sector also employs
more than half the population of these countries and manyother countries. There is potential for the sector to contribute
greatly to the continent’s growth and development.
However, this potential is being threatened by a myriad offactors including climate change, lack of technological knowhow on the part of farmers, low productivity due to unfavourable
and outdated farming practices, and a generational shift ininterest from agriculture among young people. These issues gaveneed to this research study which seeks to address the following:‘I use the weather forecast
to plan agriculture
activities e.g., planting
fertilizer application
irrigation management’.
Kennedy Pedzisai
Smallholder farmer-Zimbabwe

income.

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY17

04
AIMS ANDOBJECTIVESOF THE STUDY
The study was undertaken with the following
objectives:•

To provide evidence-based data for the launch of
Heifer International Envision Africa’s Agriculture2030 program.

•To understand the challenges that have led todecreasing farm productivity and dwindlingincomes amongst African smallholder farmers.

•

To understand the challenges of technology
adoption by smallholder farmers in Africa.

•

To understand youth participation in agriculture,
their fears and their impact on food security.

•

To understand technological innovation inagriculture, its adoption rate, barrier-to-entry,
scalability, and potential impact on supporting
agriculture development on the continent.

18

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY

05
SCOPE OFSTUDYThis report covers three regions of Africa,

namely West, South and East Africa. It examines
the current realities of agriculture, youth andtechnology in the following countries:•

East Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania,
and Uganda.

•

West Africa: Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal.

•

Southern Africa: Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The report profiles these countries and provides
information on the following: overview of country,
current realities of agriculture, challenges,
opportunities, and overview of youth in agriculture
and tech.
In addition, the report surveys stakeholders in the
agriculture sector in Africa and it targets 25,000
youths across the profiled countries and 50
stakeholders comprising innovation hubs, agritech
startups and smallholder farmers.

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY

19

06
RESEARCH
DESIGN:DATA ANDMETHODOLOGYSAMPLE DESIGN

three sites. Virtual field supervisors recordedThis research used qualitative research

modified data collection tools as required.

methodology to gather data and create anunderstanding of the problem statement
as it affects stakeholders in the countries infocus. Also, virtual focus group discussions
were employed to approach the research
objectives from different viewpoints given
the multiplicity of stakeholders connected tothe problem. To complement data gathered
through the virtual focus groups, we usede-surveys to document current attitudes
and perceptions of stakeholders towards
agriculture, barriers to innovation in agri-

29.9k
YOUTH
RESPONSES

299

SMALLHOLDERFARMERS110

AGRIC-FOCUSEDORGANISATIONS

tech with youths and challenges faced bytechnology. The e-surveys used the following
mediums to reach the intended participants;

training workshops on the final tools to
be used and interview techniques for
information collection before executing thevirtual field plan for virtual field investigatorsand supervisors. The main objectives of the
training workshop were:
•
•
•

•

Whatsapp groups, social media ads, youth
influencers on the internet, SMS and•

Describe the purpose and objectivesof the assessment
Describe the data collection tools
and how to use them
Orientation towards the study tools
with every question thoroughly
discussed
Techniques for conducting focus
group discussions and in-depth
interviews
Ethical considerations

telegram groups. In researching the problem,
we also used desktop research methodology
such as literature review, reports, and review
of policy documents from governments,

In preparing to execute the research, a pilot
study was conducted to pre-test the datacollection tools in the virtual field in at least
THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY

The research team organized two virtual

smallholder farmers in their access and use oftechnology and social sector stakeholders.

20

and documented the pilot’s findings and

In total, survey responses were received from29,954 youths, 299 smallholder farmers and110agric-focused organizations. It should be
noted that the data is representative of theeleven Heifer focused countries with eachcountry contributing at least 5 to 13% of thetotal dataset.

07

The research used a two-pronged approach in its online survey targeted at youths, smallholder farmers and agric-focusedorganisations in eleven countries within Heifer’s focus. The first method was using a survey to reach the three different
groups comprising youths, smallholder farmers and agric-focused organisations, and the second method was conducting
a focus group discussion with youths in six countries to have an indepth understanding of the problem statement. ThisRESULTSmode of data collection provided evidence-based analysis of the issues around young people and agriculture, barriers
and thinking, smallholder farmers’ challenges and the agric-focused organization’s point of view about agric innovation.
The following results were observed from the analysed data:•

There is a low agricultural tech adoption across thesurveyed countries with only 23% of youth engaged in•

Smallholder farmers and agric-focused organisations

agriculture using any form of agricultural technology (ansurveyed suggested that literacy, socio-economic status

App, SMS, website, software).

and inadequate/no extension service are the key reasonsfor the low adoption of technology.

•

Access to land or ownership is a major cause of concern
as 59% of youths surveyed indicated they lack both.

•

Smallholder farmers indicated that enlightenment/
information and affordability will encourage them to•

Funding, training and access to agriculture technology areembrace technology innovation.

the three key areas to support youth to encourage theirinvolvement in agriculture. These three areas of concern•

Adverse weather conditions (30%), insects, pests andaccounted for 38%, 24% and 11% respectively in the

disease (17%) and technology barriers (14%) haveanalyzed data.

negatively impacted farmers’ productivity.

According to the surveyed Agric-focused organizations,•

Evidence from the survey notes that the critical successthe best way to engage youth in agriculture in Africa isfactor(s) of an agric-tech solution is the ease of use, range

through technological innovation (39%), governmentof information and affordability.

support for young farmers (32%) and inclusion/adoption ofyouth in agric policy (21%).
•••

The coronavirus outbreak affected 40% of agric-focusedorganizations as they had to temporarily close business,

The youths surveyed suggests that access to finance

38% experienced a reduction of average purchase(37%), access to land (14%) and lack of training (12%)

amount per customer and 36% do not have the financial

are the three key barriers to youth engagement incapital to grow back their businesses.

agriculture in Africa.

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY21

08
PRESENTATION
OF FINDINGSA TOTAL OF 29,954 YOUTHS , 299 SMALLHOLDERFARMERS AND 110 AGRICULTURE-FOCUSEDORGANIZATIONS COMPLETED AN ONLINE SURVEY.
THE DATA COLLECTED IS REPRESENTATIVE OF
ELEVEN AFRICAN COUNTRIES WITH EACH COUNTRYCONTRIBUTING AT LEAST 5% TO 13% OF THE TOTALDATASETS.

22

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY

Ethiopia

Ghana

Kenya

Malawi

Nigeria

RwandaSenegalTanzania

UgandaZambiaZimbabwe

Others

Total

1,457

2,678

2,935

1,446

3,937

3,362

1,469

3,914

3,294

3,026

2,436

1,368

29,954

How Youths Can be Supported To Take Up Agriculture

From the survey and focus group discussions,
three main areas of support were identified by60%

youths working in the sector.

50%•

38% required financial support•

34% emphasized the need for40%

training and mentorship•

30%

11% required access to Agric-Tech

20%

Ten out of 11 countries, with the exception of
Tanzania agreed that the most important

10%

support required is funding. When placed incontext, training and mentorship are seen0%

as more important than funding in Ghana,

Ethiopia

Ghana

Kenya

Malawi

Nigeria

RwandaSenegalTanzania

UgandaZambiaZimbabwe

Kenya, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. More youths

Training

18%

31%

23%

22%

23%

29%

19%

28%

20%

25%

19%

stressed the need for support in the area ofFunding

access to market in Tanzania, Uganda and

43%

35%

30%

40%

52%

37%

39%

27%

42%

40%

30%

Mentoring

Zimbabwe. Youths in Senegal, Kenya, Nigeria

19%

10%

15%

14%

5%

7%

9%

8%

12%

11%

13%

Access To Market

and Ghana prioritized the need for support in

7%

5%

9%

8%

4%

4%

4%

16%

11%

4%

11%

Access To Agric Tech.

Agric-Tech. Access to land was an acute need

7%

13%

14%

5%

13%

9%

17%

12%

9%

7%

10%

Access To Land

6%

6%

9%

11%

3%

14%

12%

9%

6%

13%

17%

in Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Zambia.

Organisations working in the sector suggested that the best way to engage youths in

How To Engage Youths In Agriculture

agriculture is through technological innovation (39%), government support for young farmers(32%) and inclusion as well as adoption of youth in agriculture policy formation (21%).

45%
40%
35%

39%

30%

32%

25%
20%

21%

15%

Most youths in Africa do not have access to land for agriculture. Fifty-nine percent of youths
surveyed do not have access to or own land. Land ownership amongst young people is lowest
in Ghana, Zambia, Senegal and Rwanda. Youths in Malawi seem to have access to land with
only 14% having no access the lowest among countries surveyed.

10%
5%

8%

0%

Include in
the national
curriculum

Government
support foryoung farmers

Technological
Inclusion andadoption of youth innovationin agriculture
policyTHE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY23

Percentage of youth with no access to landThis survey provides a snapshot of the unemployment statistics of Africa. Sixty-six percent ofyouths who completed the survey are unemployed. The highest number of unemployed youths
were in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.

Percentage of Employed youth in each country
90%
80%

79%

70%
60%

45%

50%
40%

40%
31%

38%

30%

Zimbabwe

Kenya

Malawi

Nigeri a

RwandaSenegalTanzania

Ugan daZambiaZimbabwe

Percenta ge of employed youth in each country

Agri-Tech adoption rate, while Zimbabwe, Kenya and Nigeria have the highest adoption rates.
Ethiopia

28%

36%

Zambia

Ghana

55%

46%

Uganda

Kenya

61%

88%

Tanzania

Malawi

34%
45%

53%

RwandaNigeria

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY

Ghana

52%

Senegal24

Ethopia

Overall, technology adoption in Africa is quite low. Ghana, Senegal and Zambia have the lowest

Youths engaged in Agriculture
51%

8%

0

0

percentage of youths engaged in agriculture.

21%

20%

10%

agriculture. Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda boast of the highest

37%

29%

20%

Youths surveyed are engaged in at least one form of

39%

Youth in agriculture using any form of agric technology

Crop and Livestock agriculture are the major types of agriculture that youths are
involved in. This is supported by the smallholder farmers’ survey, with 30% involved

Organisation perspective: Most significant reason for the low rate ofadoption of technology by smallholder farmers in africa

in crop agriculture, 16% in livestock agriculture while 60% are involved in both.
Livestock agriculture is highest in Ethiopia and Nigeria.

Type of agriculture engaged in by youths

Farmers perspective: reasons for low rate of adoption oftechnology by smallholder farmers in Africa

Smallholder farmers surveyed suggested that their low literacy level, socioeconomic status, and inadequate or no extension service are the key reasons fortheir low adoption of technology. This is supported by organisations who work inthe sector.

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY

25

The critical success factor(s) of agri-tech solutions are: ease of use, range of information

40% of organisations working in the sector temporarily closed theirand affordability, are the three critical success factors of agri-tech solutions.

business, 38% experienced a reduction of average purchase amount

Critical success factor(s) of agric-tech solutions

per customer while 36% lack the investment to grow the business.

How Covid Impacted Agric focused organisations

Working capital, digital literacy as well as skilled labour force are challenges
to agri-tech adoption.

Barriers to Agri-Tech Adoption

26

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY

09
FOCUS GROUPDISCUSSION

Focus group discussions were held with youths in

However, during the focus group sessions, it was

driving farming interest for young people. During

six African countries, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zambia,

clear that there are many issues which surroundthe focus group discussions, the majority of the

Rwanda, and Uganda to find out more about thethe agricultural sector. In terms of challenges

participants agreed that technology had a role tobarriers limiting youths working in agriculture andfaced by young people, there were two recurrent

play in agriculture in making it more attractive toagri-tech innovation in Africa.

themes: access to markets and land ownership.

youths.

Participants were asked which career is the mosthad some more work to do increating policies which

The participants described various areas in which

attractive in their countries. The careers that stoodaddress these two issues. Other barriers include atechnology can benefit agriculture, among which

out in all groups were Medicine, Technology (ICTlack of access to finance and limited knowledge

was in irrigation; creating easier methods to irrigate

a result of job security and access to opportunities

importance of mentorship

Participants felt the government in their countries

and Data Science) and Agriculture. This choice is as
seen in Medicine and Tech. While there was aabout modern agriculture techniques and the

localised applications to help monitor and predictclimate changeas this was identified as an issue

general belief that agriculture is attractive to youths

While it is still early to evaluate the impact of

because it is a way for youths easily start a business,digitalization of farming systems in Africa, in terms

they also recognized the importance of agricultureof productivity and improvement of human welfare,to a nation’s development.

there is already a promising trend: technology is

31

farm land using drone technology, as well as creating

for farmers in Africa. Also very key is the creationof applications which will bring farmers and themarket together to maximise yield, reduce waste
and increase profits.

https://hbr.org/2017/05/how-digital-technology-is-changing-farming-in-africa

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY

27

10COUNTRY
PROFILES

28

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGYETHIOPIA
Overview of country information
Ethiopia is one of the oldest and growing economies in Sub-

Saharan Africa32. Ethiopia ranks as the second most populous
country in sub-Saharan African with a population estimatedaround 114 million33. The population is expected to increaseat a yearly rate of 1.9% and reach 136 million people by 203034.
Despite the population growth and the location of the country,
Ethiopia still remains one of the poorest economies in the world
with a per capita income of $85035. Ethiopia’s economy largely
depends on agriculture and boasts of 70% employment rate36.
According to a 2018 report, Ethiopia has agricultural land of
about 36.3% of the total land area in the country. 15.2% of thisland is arable, 1.1% of the land plants permanent crops, and 20%
is used for permanent pasture37. Coffee, oily seeds, and cut flowers
are the top agricultural exports of Ethiopia38.

Digital finance makes it easy for me to access micro-loans’
Bigabwa Pascal - Smallholder farmer - Uganda

32

FAO 2021. https://www.fao.org/ethiopia/fao-in-ethiopia/ethiopia-at-a-glance/en/

33

AFD. https://www.afd.fr/en/page-regions-pays/ethiopia

34

Worldometer 2021. https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/etiopia-population/

35

World Bank 2021. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/ethiopia/overview

36

Nations Online 2021. https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/ethiopia.htm#Business37

CIA 2021. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/ethiopia/

38

OEC 2019. https://www.oec.world/en/profile/country/eth

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY29

Overview of Agriculture: Current realities
Agriculture is the foundation and backbone

70%

OF THEPOPULATION
IN ETHIOPIA IS
EMPLOYED IN
AGRICULTURE AND
AGRICULTURE IS
THE BACKBONE OF
THE ECONOMY

of Ethiopia’s economy. Agricultures offers
the highest rate of employment of 70% in
Ethiopia39. It accounts for half of the GDP and
90% of foreign exchange, with dependence
largely on crop and pastoral farming. The
Ministry of Agriculture reports that agriculture
contributes 27.5 billion dollars or 34.1% to theGDP, employs some 79% of the population,accounts for 79% of foreign earnings, and is
the major source of raw material and capital90%

OF ETHIOPIA’SFOREIGNEXCHANGE IS FROMAGRICULTURE

for investment and market40.
The country’s agriculture is dominated bysmallholder farmers whose activities aremajorly subsistence farming41. These farmers
have also continued to practice ancient,rain-fed, and small scale agriculture42. The

27.5bnUSD ISCONTRIBUTEDBY AGRICULTURE
WHICH IS 34.1%
OF GDP

agricultural exports are provided by othersmall cash-crop farmers. Coffee, dried pulses,
hide and skin, oilseeds, cereals, potatoes,sugarcane, and vegetables are the major
export crops produced in Ethiopia. Coffee isthe largest foreign exchange commodity in
Ethiopia while cut-flower is also a growing
export crop43.

30

Furthermore, the Ministry plans to increase

movement across state borders has been

wheat productivity from 2.7mt/ha in 2019 to 4

severely restricted, preventing the movement

mt/ha by 2023 and reduce wheat import fromof agricultural products and, as a result,

1.7 million mt in 2019 to zero by 2023. These

affecting sales of the generated agricultural

would be achieved by acid soil and vertisol

commodities.

management, intensification, expanded useof irrigation, mechanization, and private sector
partnership.

Challenges

The Ethiopian Government set up the Growthand Transformation Plan to reach certain
goals. Primarily, growth in the market should

Periodic droughts, soil degradation due toreach 8.1 percent per year during this timeovergrazing, deforestation, high taxation,frame. This includes bolstering smallholder

and poor infrastructure plague Ethiopia’s

farmers’ productivity, enhancing marketing

agriculture (making it difficult and expensive

systems, upgrading participation of the private

to get goods to market). Subsistence farming,

sector, increasing the volume of irrigated land,

low productivity, inadequate infrastructure

and curtailing the number of households

and resources, as well as severe vulnerability

with inadequate food. Besides, it is hoped

to extreme rainfall constitute Ethiopian

that the number of key crops is doubled fromagriculture. Likewise, there is scarcity of

18.1m metric to 39.5m metric tonnes. These

modernized and hybrid seed for planting.

programmes should also result in Ethiopia

The Ethiopian agriculture sector has faced
major challenges as a result of COVID-19,
such as with the lockdowns in major cities,
harvesting processes and labor scarcity
have harmed supporting infrastructure
across the agriculture sector. Additionally,

39

Nations Online 2021. https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/ethiopia.htm#Business

40

Agricultural and Rural Transformation in Ethiopia, 2020. https://media.africaportal.org/documents/Agricultural-and_rural_transformation_in_Ethiopia.pdf

41

FAO 2021. https://www.fao.org/ethiopia/fao-in-ethiopia/ethiopia-at-a-glance/en/

42

Agriculture and Food Security, 2018. https://agricultureandfoodsecurity.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40066-018-0208-y

43

FAO 2021. https://www.fao.org/ethiopia/fao-in-ethiopia/ethiopia-at-a-glance/en/

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY

Opportunities

getting to middle-income status by 2025.
The favorable government policies
encouraging the private sector and thefavorable agro-climatic conditions will be two
major drivers behind the growth of the market
studied. Agriculture in Ethiopia is the largest
component of its economy and employs the

COUNTRY
PROFILEETHIOPIA

majority of the Ethiopian population.
The majority of these are smallholder farmers
practicing subsistence farming on less than
one hectare of land. These farmers, whose

output is predominantly cereal crops, accountfor 95.0% of the agricultural production in
Ethiopia.

As the state owns all land in Ethiopia, rural

THE INNOVATORS
Startup: Debo Engineering,Social Media Page:

Boaz Birhanu Tullu

Facebook: Debo Engineering

Location(s): Ethiopia

PLC

Co-Founder: Jermia Bayisa andresidents have been guaranteed access to land

Overview:

through a law that grants them a right to obtain

Debo engineering is a startup

agricultural land for free.

technology company that uses
recently emerging technology

Overview of youth in agriculture and tech
Ethiopia’s youthful population is an incredible
asset and untapped resource for positive
growth. Of Ethiopia’s population, estimatedat 104 million, 41 percent is under the age ofsuch as ML, IoT, IP, WSN, Data
Science, mobile computing,web, and related technologies
to solve critical problems in
Africa, especially agriculture.

15. More than 28 percent are aged 15 to 29.

Innovation:

Youth unemployment is estimated at nearly 27

They successfully designed

percent . Thus, the youth are looking towarda mobile application for an

employment options other than agriculture.

accurate representation of crop

44

The Ethiopian government has instituted newlaws to grant youth unlimited access to agric
lands. Lands can now be bought in the market
and be rented on a long-term basis from otherfarmers. Local authorities that have been the
traditional source of farmland have opened
up unlimited capacity to accommodate new

Twitter: @deboengineering

Unless African innovators andyouths are united and solve African
problems by Africans, Africa
will remain under a colony oftechnology.

disease. They also offer drone
services to improve farm analysis
and crop disease classificationand prediction.

Website:https://deboengineering.com/

farmers as all arable land is already occupied inthese areas.

44

COUNTRY
PROFILEUSAID, 2017. https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/Fact_Sheet_Developing_Ethiopias_Youth_Jul_2017.pdf

ETHIOPIATHE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY

31

KENYA
Overview of country information
Kenya is regarded to be the growing commercial hub in East
Africa45. Kenya has about 54 million inhabitants which is anequivalent of 0.69% of the total world population46. Kenya

has not totally experienced urbanization as the country only

has about 27.9% urban population. The country boasts of fairly
well developed agricultural sector for both local consumption

and international export47. Kenya has a land area of 569,140 km2
and an agricultural area of 27,630 km248.
Despite having a large expanse of agricultural land, less than
8% of the land is used for crop and food production. Less than
20% of the land is suitable for cultivation, of which only 12% isclassified as high potential agricultural land due to adequate
rainfall and about 8% is medium potential land49. The rest of theland is arid or semiarid and Kenya is known to be bordered bydeserts and glaciated mountains.

Most technological innovations require literacy levels which many farmers lack
Mariana Jumbe- Smallholder farmer - Malawi

3245

Oxford Business Group, 2018. https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/kenya-2018/country-profile

46

Worldometer 2021. https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/kenya-population/

47

New Agriculturist 2010. www.new-ag.info/en/country/profile.php?a=1787

48

FAO 2016. http://www.fao.org/countryprofiles/index/en/?iso3=KEN

49

Nations Encyclopedia Agriculture - Kenya - export, growth, area, crops, farming, policy, sector

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY31.4%
REDUCTION IN
RURAL POVERTY
HAS BEENWITNESSED IN
KENYA.

Overview of Agriculture:
Current realities

Challenges

children under five are stunted (chronically
The agriculture sector continues to play amalnourished) in Kenya. The country’s

The agricultural sector as well as tourism

vital role in the rural economy. The sector was

population has increased significantly and atconstitutes the major source of Kenya’s

one of the first to fully devolve the function of

the current rate of growth, it will double in theeconomic development. It has primarily

service provision to the county governments

next 27 years, reaching 81 million in 203954.

contributed to the growth of the rural

underscoring the importance of the county

As a result of this rapid increase, land parcels

economy in Kenya. Rural agriculture

governments’ role in ensuring food security.

in the areas of high agricultural potential are

Agriculture and agribusiness continue to facedecreasing in size, affecting food production55.

has witnessed about 31.4% reduction

33%

OF KENYA’S GDP IS
CONTRIBUTED BY
AGRICULTURE

in rural poverty50. Agriculture is said tosome challenges of getting the best of their

Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) . Itsof infrastructure, inadequate water supply,

than 56% of the total population and about

irrigation farming to Kenya have not met

economic development. The president has

fourth irrigable land has been developed .

was announced in 2020 to ensure food andbe contributing approximately 33% to51contribution is tremendous in employing more
70% of the rural population. Major agricultural
products in Kenya are tea, coffee, horticulture,90%

dairy products, poultry, wheat. Tea, coffee, cut-

OF FARMERSBETWEEN AGES
18-35 IN KENYAHAVE HIGH LEVELOF ENGAGEMENTWITH ICTa day, 36.5% are food insecure and 35% offlowers, fruits, and vegetables are the major
agricultural export products from Kenya.
Notwithstanding, smallholder farmers andagricultural enterprises continue to facechallenges of growing their businesses andimproving the quality of agricultural goods.

activities. Some of these challenges are lackand less arable land. All efforts to introduce

Agriculture has a part in the future of Kenyan

higher results as just about one-fifth to one-recorded as part of his Big Four agenda that52

Those who are accustomed to rainfall farming
are being forced to move into more fertile
regions where they are less susceptible
to drought and other extreme weather
conditions53.
The dynamics of poverty within Kenya
are changing and directly influence thecountry’s agricultural sector. Currently 46%of the population live on less than one USD

50

The World Bank, 2019. Kenya Economic Update: Transforming Agricultural Productivity to Achieve Food Security for All

51

USAID 2021. https://www.usaid.gov/kenya/agriculture-and-food-security52

FAO 2016. http://www.fao.org/kenya/kenya-at-a-glance/en/

53

FAO 2016. http://www.fao.org/kenya/kenya-at-a-glance/en/54

FAO 2016. http://www.fao.org/kenya/kenya-at-a-glance/en/

55

FAO 2016. http://www.fao.org/kenya/kenya-at-a-glance/en/

56

Oxford Business Group, 2018. https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/kenya-2018/country-profile

COUNTRY
PROFILE

KENYA

Opportunities

nutritional security of all Kenyan citizens56.
Judging from this, there is a rapid shift morethan before to agricultural activities. Given
the importance of agriculture in rural areas of
Kenya where poverty is prevalent, the sector’s
importance in poverty alleviation cannot be
overstated. Strengthening and improving theperformance of the agricultural sector andenabling the engagement of the poorest

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY33

and most vulnerable in this process is therefore aprerequisite and a necessary condition for achieving
recovery and growth in Kenya after recent years ofdrought and slow development.
Re-orienting public expenditure from private to
public goods, particularly to agricultural research anddevelopment, extension and training, and measuresthat reduce market transaction costs.
Farmer-centered approach. The knowledgeof farmers themselves is often overlooked.

There is also an association between women’s

empowerment and productivity. New forms offarmers’ organization may be required.

Farmer services: Index insurance in the agriculture
sector is expanding and demonstrating results, as
are digital technologies that facilitate market access.
Measures to bring financial and agricultural markets
closer together could improve productivity.

What also distinguishes this new generation of youth
in agriculture is its use of technology, including
digital financial services (DFS). As Mercy Corps AgriFin
Accelerate found, 90% of farmers ages 18 to 35

in Kenya have high levels of engagement withinformation and communication technology. They

Overview of youth in agriculture and tech
Agriculture is not for the adults alone. Youth should
begin to see a future in agriculture. In Kenya,
about 65% of youths live in the rural areas57. Youthinvolvement in agriculture may take different paths,
not necessarily crop farming. Other areas could involve
agricultural investment, service providers, logistics,
capacity and value building.

57

34

are active users of social media, particularly Facebook,
Google and WhatsApp, and are bringing a new
dynamism and perspective to agriculture.
Youth engage with DigiFarm as farmers or throughopportunities that support agricultural production,such as managing agro dealer outlets associated withthe platform or providing soil testing, crop spraying or
veterinary services. Many find its services to be useful.

CGAP, 2019. https://www.cgap.org/blog/youth-agriculture-new-generation-leverages-technology

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGYCOUNTRY
PROFILEKENYA

RWANDA
Overview of country information
Rwanda is a landlocked country in Central Africa located on

the north of Burundi and East of DRC. The country has a total
land area of 24,668 sq km. Out of the total land area, 74.5% isagricultural land in which just 47% is arable. Rwanda is one of
the most densely populated countries in Africa58.

The majority of its about 12.5 million inhabitants are located inrural communities. Rwanda is a rural and agrarian country thatis highly dependent on agriculture for economic growth. The
country earns 63% of its export earnings from agriculture. Someof the agricultural products in Rwanda are bananas, coffee, tea,
potatoes, beans, gourds, milk, taro, and cassava.
The extent of agricultural dependence shows in the 75.3%
employment rate that it offers to the inhabitants59. The country
experiences two major seasons in a year: long dry season from
June to August, and heavy rainfall from March to May60.

58

CIA 2021. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/rwanda/

59

CIA 2021. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/rwanda/

60

FAO 2015. http://www.fao.org/rwanda/our-office-in-rwanda/rwanda-at-a-glance/en/

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY

35

70%

OF THEPOPULATIONIN RWANDA
PRACTICESSUBSISTENTFARMING

Overview of Agriculture:
Current realities

Challenges

Agriculture is one of the top economic

farmers and often among the poorest ofactivities in Rwanda with more than 70% of
the population practicing subsistence farming.
The period for cultivation can be divided into
the first cultivable season (from September
to January) and the second cultivable season(from February to June). In the marshlands,
where water is abundant, there is also a third

90%

agricultural season for the cultivation of rice

OF RWANDA’SLAND IS ON HILLSRESULTING IN
LOSSES OF LANDFROM SOIL EROSION
OF UP TO 1.4M
TONNES OF LANDYEARLY33%

OF RWANDA’S
GDP IS FROMAGRICULTURE

the population. The issue of landlessness iscommon to Rwanda’s agriculture because
oftentimes, farmersare forced to sell theirfarmland in order to survive. Since they growto eat, the farmlands are subjected to otherdevelopments outside agriculture63.
Also, land degradation and soil erosion are

and vegetables.

part of the challenges that the subsistence

The agricultural sector accounts for 33% ofof Rwanda’s land is on hills resulting in soil

farmers in Rwanda face. Approximately 90%

the national GDP. In general, Rwanda’s GDP

erosion, soil loss, and decreased fertility. An

201461. Tea and coffee are the major exports

to be lost yearly. This is equivalent to losing

potatoes, maize and beans are the mostresulting in land privatisation.

has been growing at the rate of 7% sinceestimated 1.4 million tonnes of land is said

while plantains, cassava, Irish potatoes, sweet

320,000 US dollars64. Land degradation is also

productive crops. Rwanda exports dry beans,potatoes, maize, rice, cassava flour, maize flour,
poultry and live animals within Eastern Africa.
Despite the large population involved inagriculture, Rwanda’s agriculture has notexperienced the successful revolution it
aspires62. The agricultural sector still facessome deep problems.

36

Most of the farmers in Rwanda are subsistenceLand use and distribution is another problemof agriculture in Rwanda. In Rwanda, land
categorized as rural is nearly 98% of thetotal land area, with around 49% classified
as arable. According to a land law passed in
2005, a private market was created for land
titles and customary land tenure systems

61

FAO 2015. http://www.fao.org/rwanda/our-office-in-rwanda/rwanda-at-a-glance/en/62

The Conversation, 2017. https://theconversation.com/rwandas-agricultural-revolution-is-not-th-success-it-claims-to-be-86712

63

The Conversation, 2017. https://theconversation.com/rwandas-agricultural-revolution-is-not-th-success-it-claims-to-be-86712

64

FAO 2015. http://www.fao.org/rwanda/our-office-in-rwanda/rwanda-at-a-glance/en/

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY

were abolished. Land owners are required
to register their land ownerships and land
titles are equally available for women andmen. However, women who are informal have
uncertain land rights and most times havedifficulties in claiming inheritance.
Rwandan agriculture is highly reliant on
rainfalls and susceptible to climate shocks.
Agricultural productivity is variable fromseason to season due to the low use of watersupplies for irrigation.
Low crop and livestock productivity are due
to lack of proper farming methods, low input
use, and poor production processes. When the
Government of Rwanda (GoR) launched the
Crop Intensification Program in 2007, the useof chemical fertilizers steadily increased (CIP).
Subsidized fertilizers are given to farmers forthe cultivation of six priority crops under thescheme. Despite this, farmers’ adoption offertilizers remains quite low when comparedto other countries in the region.
Processing capacity issues and theintroduction of higher-value-added goods tothe industry.

COUNTRY
PROFILERWANDABetween 1999 and 2008, the percentage

For the improvement of agriculture to tolerateof processed food crops never surpassed

climate shock, Rwanda’s National Strategy for

6.5%. Furthermore, just 34% of the total foodClimate Change and Low Carbon Development

produced in the country makes it to the market.

are moving to ensure the stability and

The lack of adequate technology, expertise,prosperity of the sector by 2050. The means toinvestment incentives, and infrastructure

achieve these include introducing sustainable

development are the reasons for untappeduse of organic waste to improve soil fertility,

processing capacity. Processing companies findand improved agriculture through irrigation

it difficult to operate due to a lack of sufficientand terracing66.

water and, at times, energy supplies.

Opportunities

Overview of youth in agriculture and tech
In Rwanda, the youth population is about

Due to shortage in land availability, the

29% of the total population67. The official age

Government of Rwanda is promoting

range for youth in Rwanda is 16-30 years, which

intensification as a strategy to increasediffers from the UN age range for youth (15-24

production and farmers’ incomes. According

years). There is evidence that youth from allto the Strategic Plan for the Transformation

over the world are interested in learning aboutof Agriculture (PSTAIII), the long term goal is

new technologies related to farming more

to move Rwandan agriculture from a largely

easily. Besides, young farmers are keen on

subsistence sector to a more knowledge-

increasing their production through improved

intensive, market-oriented sector, sustaining

and modern technologies68. Agritech has

growth and adding value to products.

developed a new and regular knowledge

A measure to do this will be to consider

lab feature in Rwanda to invite farmers andagriculture as a catalyst sector. Also, they will

heads of farmer cooperatives to talk about thepromote the development of value chainschallenges they face. Using this information,with stronger links with the private sector. The

young people and their mentors will havecrops of interest for this PTSAIII are coffee, dairy,

more focus for the areas needing new ideas,horticulture and cereals among others65.

and they will attempt to develop suitable ICT
solutions in response to their complaints.

THE INNOVATORS

Startup: Hello Tractor,

Founder: Jehiel Oliver

Location: Offices in Nigeria

Tractor has become thelargest connected SaaS

African countries

solution for equipment

Overview:
Hello tractor is anagricultural technology
company that connects
tractor owners and farmers
through IoT enabledfarm equipment sharing

service providers,connecting a marketplaceof 3000 tractors to morethan 250,000 farmers.

Smallholder Farmers
Reached: 250,000

applications.

Website:Innovation:com/

Hello Tractor’s user-friendly
software enables farmers torequest affordable tractor
services while providing
enhanced security to
tractor owners throughremote asset tracking and

FAO 2015. http://www.fao.org/rwanda/our-office-in-rwanda/rwanda-at-a-glance/en/

66

New Agriculturist. http://www.new-ag.info/en/country/profile.php?a=2694

67

RWANDA GOV. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5af954b2e5274a25dbface35/Rwanda_briefing_note__Regional_Analysis_of_Youth_Demographics_.pdf

68

FAO, 2014. htpps://www.docplayer.net/10132934-Youth-and-agriculture-key-challenges-and-concrete-solutions.html

RWANDAfew short years, Hello& Kenya, Operational in 13

65

COUNTRY
PROFILEvirtual monitoring. In just a

https://: https://hellotractor.

Social Media Page:
Social Media Page:

Facebook; HelloTractor,
Instagram:@

Hellotractor, Twitter:@hellotractorLinkedIn

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY37

TANZANIA
Overview of country information
Tanzania is an East Africa nation located on the south of theequator with an economy primarily based on agriculture.

Although Tanzania’s population is more than 56 million, thecountry still finds its place as a low-income country 70. Tanzania

had around 44 million hectares of arable land in 2016, but only

33% of it was under cultivation. Almost 70% of the poor population
live in rural areas, and nearly all of them are employed in the
agriculture industry.
Land is an essential resource in achieving food security; maize,sorghum, millet, rice, wheat, beans, cassava, potatoes, and bananas
are among Tanzania’s nine main food crops71. With over $1 billion
in earnings from cash crop (tobacco, sugar, coffee, cashew, andcotton) exports, the agricultural industry contributes significantly tothe country’s foreign exchange earnings72.

‘African smallholder farmers are eager to learn and to do more for the sector but it seems as though government policies and prices/
implementation makes it difficult for the farmers to thrive. Especially produce prices that the government offers do not motivate the farmers
to do better. Some smallholder farmers still need a lot of training on how to run their farms etc but through experience, many are succeeding.’
Mariana Jumbe- Smallholder farmer - Malawi

38

70

FAO 2015. www.fao.org/family-farming/themes/small-famiily-farmers

71

Indexmundi, 2020. https://www.indexmundi.com/tamzania/agriculture_products.html

72

Nations Encyclopedia. 2016 https://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Africa/TAnania-AGRICULTURE,html

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGYOverview of Agriculture:
Current realities

25%
OF TANZANIA’SGDP IS DEPENDENTON AGRICULTURE.

Tanzania’s economy is dependent on
agriculture, which accounts for nearly onefourth of the country’s GDP. More than

88% of the country’s population are in the
agriculture labour force and about 85% of

64.9%

POPULATION IS
EMPLOYED IN
AGRICULTURE

the country’s export is agriculture73. The

agriculture sector’s recent transformation
is presenting opportunities for increased
development, job creation, and poverty
reduction.

The government intends to include private
sector participation, such as the Southern
Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania
project, a public-private partnership toboost regional investment. Furthermore,

the government is focusing on researchin collaboration with local institutions tocreate the capacity required for long-term
agricultural development.

As a result of private sector investment andpolicy initiatives, the agriculture market is
expected to expand during the forthcoming
years. All these are great initiatives but still

Challenges

Opportunities

In Tanzania, agriculture experiences myriads ofAccording to a World Bank report, thechallenges that range from natural to human-presence of medium-scale farms in a district

induced problems. Some of the challenges

generally builds and deepens markets forare government’s input, lack of modernised

agricultural inputs and outputs by enhancing

infrastructure and practices, inadequate funds,

local demand, which attracts suppliers. As aclimate change, flood, and drought.

result, small-scale farms were more likely to use
improved seed and fertilizer, cultivate a larger

However, the government has been trying toproportion of their landholdings, and accessminimize poverty and increase productivity

agricultural extension services and credit inwith the introduction of recent initiatives.

areas where there are more medium- andSome of these initiatives are The Country

large-scale farms.

Programming Framework (CPF) of 2017-2020
and The UN Development Assistance Plan

The report shows that the 368,000 medium-(UNDAP II) of 2016-2021 .

scale farms added in Tanzania between 200874

and 2014 created 13 million days of additional
Nonetheless, lots of subsistence farmers

work annually for hired workers, and US$225–

still find it difficult to acclimatize with the

300 million in net backward and consumer

new trends because of low farmer training

link75.

and lack of capital. Since agriculture is notexperiencing any landmark growth, resultant

Transformation in the agriculture sector caneffects are noticed in unemployment, hunger,

offer desired economic growth. Recent signs

malnutrition, starvation, and increased deathof transformation in Tanzania’s agriculturalrates. As much as agriculture relates to thesector offer encouraging opportunities for

economic sectors, lower productivity means

acceleration of growth, job creation andlower GDP rate.

poverty reduction, if urgent steps are takenlack successful models to inspire smallholder
farmers.

73

AA 2020. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/unlocking-potential-of-tanzanias-smallholder-farmers/1749472

74

The World Bank, 2019. Kenya Economic Update: Transforming Agricultural Productivity to Achieve Food Security for All

75

https://www,fao.org/tanzania/programmes-and-projects/en/

COUNTRY
PROFILETANZANIA

to improve the sector’s policy and regulatoryenvironment and investments.

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY

39

The current trends in agriculture offer a tremendous

than agricultural activities generally associated with

opportunity to catalyze private investment, both local

masculinity. The same research shows that women are

and foreign, and raise the incomes of the poor andkeen to take up such agri-business activities because

smallholder farmers .

they allow them to boost their household incomes with76

ease. A project launched called OYE (Opportunities forSince agriculture already accounts for a quarter ofYouth Employment) in collaboration has been set tototal GDP and two-thirds of jobs, it can77 be expected

help youth in Tanzania to sustainably increase youth

in future years that enhanced agricultural growth will

employment and incomes79.

create more and better jobs and alleviate poverty.
Youth involvement can be scaled up by providing

Overview of youth in agriculture and techdisadvantaged youth in rural areas with life skills,
relevant technical training, linking youth to market

The largest growth in employment is agriculture;opportunities for employment and enterprise

other sectors are trade, restaurants, and hotels.

development. The government and private-sector

Recently, agriculture employs about 64.9 percent

should create opportunities in agric-tech sectors thatwhile industries and services take 6.81% and 28.32%

have concrete potential for employment creation forrespectively78. Other promising sectors are agro-

youths.

and manufacturing garments, leather products,

AgriProFocus Tanzania is a group working with

only 21% were formally employed and the remaining

to a more and better enabling environment for young

processing, textiles, metalwork, vehicle repairs,
and furniture. Among the 47% of youth working,were informally or self-employed. About half of theunemployed youth were looking for work.

young farmers and other stakeholders to contributeagripreneurs. They are carrying their functions byencouraging youth debates and learning platforms inagriculture, showcasing young and passionate young

By taking up agri-business activities, the youth havefarmers, and linking young entrepreneurs to businesshelped to increase their household incomes. Young

opportunities in Horticulture, Agricultural Finance andfemale farmers have shown more interest and excel

Livestock80.

in agri-business activities that are less labor intensive

40

76

Xinhua Net, 2019. www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/03/c_138603120.htm

77

The World Bank, 2019. Tanzania’s Agriculture Sector Offers Fresh Opportunities for Accelerated Poverty Reduction

78

Statista 2020. https://www.statista.com/statistics/44731/employment-by-economic-sector-in-tanzania/

79

SNV 2017. Young agri-business group in Tanzania: “Yes we can!”80

Agrifocu 2020. https://agriprofocus.com/youth-in-agribusiness-tnz

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGYCOUNTRY
PROFILETANZANIAUGANDA
Overview of country information
Uganda, once known as the “pearl of Africa,” has beenhampered by dictatorship and civil war due to its substantial
natural resources. Although Uganda has recently madeconsiderable progress and has become more peaceful, stableand prosperous.

Uganda has an area of 241,550.7 (sq km), of which 41,743.2 sq
km are open water and swamps while 199,807 sq km is land.
This non-increasing asset is scarce for the growing population
given the number of purposes for which it could be used for.
Increased pressure is leading to land fragmentation which
neither encourages the use of improved technology nor
commercial farming. This, therefore, limits transformation ofagriculture81.
Agriculture is the core industry and the largest employer in
Uganda’s economy. More than 80% of the women in the sector
are employed and contribute about 75% of farm production82.

81

Uganda Bureau of Statistics, 2018. Page 21, https://www.ubos.org/wp-content/uploads/publications/04_2018Agriculture_
Sector_Gender_Statistics_Profile.pdf

82

New Agriculturist, 2012. http://www.new-ag.info/en/country/profile.php?a=2414

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY41

Overview of Agriculture:
Current realities

70%

OF THEPOPULATIONIN UGANDA ARE
EMPLOYED IN
AGRCULTURE

Agriculture plays a major part in the Ugandan
economy, accounting for about 24% of the
GDP and more than half the export earningsof the country (54%; EMF World Bank, 2019).
Nearly 70% of employed people are involvedin agriculture and that is also the first job forthree quarters of people aged 15 to 24 years83.

24%

Ugandan rural population is about 78%,

OF UGANDA’S
GDP IS FROMAGRICULTURE

where farming is the predominant economic
activity84.
At the same time, agro-processing including
food/drinks, leather processing, cotton
ginning, textile and leather manufacture is
the backbone of the manufacturing sector
accounting for approximately 60% of its
total output85. Cereals are the main crop type
and the major cereal crops are maize, finger
millet and grain sorghum while other crops,

maize and potatoes have recorded the highest

Low connectivity, low access to finance, agrowth mainly as a result of area expansion.

lack of reliable inputs, little or no market

After drought-resistant seed varieties are

information and a lack of reliable outlets forplaced on the market, maize and rice areproducts are the main reasons for this.

expected to further grow.

The main challenges in Uganda for

Challenges
Agriculture is the most critical economic
sector to most Ugandans and the mostessential to growth in general. However, it
faces several structural challenges, including
the predominance of farmers with a low-yield,
reeled agriculture; increasing population
density on arable land; insecurity in tenure;lack of access to financial resources; poverty;

agricultural industries have been identified
by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as
low commercial agricultural levels, lack oflinks between researchers and farmers, lowfertilizer utilization, low irrigation cover, lowvalue added, high financing cost, lack of farmmachinery, vector and sickness, and the poortransport network86.

Opportunities

poor infrastructure and low educational

The government is working with the private

achievement. The growth of the agricultural

sector to speed up the transformation of

sector is well below population growth, with

Uganda into a middle income country and,low adoption rates of improved technologies.

above everything, to ensure that millions

Over the last two decades, growth in totalof agricultural households live well on

agricultural productivity has been negative.

agriculture.

plantains, cassava, and potatoes are mainly
produced for domestic consumption.
Uganda is a leading global coffee producer;
however, tea, tobacco and cotton are also

Most technological innovations require literacy levels which
many farmers lack’ Mariana Jumbe- Smallholder farmer - Malawi

important. In terms of production volume; rice,83

ILO 2020. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---dcomm/---publ/documents/publication/wcms_737648.pdf&sa=U&ved=
2ahUKEwiW0aer6oLwAhV5gf0HHcU7CVEQFjAMegQIDxAB&usg=AOvVaw04wruTCDY4CIZWHqOTqzyy

42

84International Growth Centre, Fowler and Rauschendorfer, 2019. Page 3. https://www.theigc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Fowler-and-Rauschendorfer-2019-working-paper.pdf

85International Growth Centre, Fowler and Rauschendorfer, 2019. Page 3. https://www.theigc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Fowler-and-Rauschendorfer-2019-working-paper.pdf

86

The State House of Uganda, 2016. President names 10 challenges to agriculture in Uganda

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGYCOUNTRY
PROFILEUGANDAThe National Resistance Movement (NRM) has
embarked on a privatizing process. In order tohelp investors implement their plans and to advise
the government on investor-friendly policies andstructural measures, the Uganda Investment
Authority (UIA) was created.
There are a number of investment incentives, there
are also other benefits such as a rich base of raw
materials and access to growing regional and homemarkets. Oil seed production and processing, cotton
production, mining, spinning and weaving, animal
production and processing, fruit and vegetableproduction and added value with regard to coffee
and grain are some of the investment opportunities
in agriculture and agro-processing.
Since 2015, The World Bank has been leveraging
local agri-tech startups to help 150,000 farmers

receive electronic vouchers for inputs and services.
Scaling up Uganda’s agro-tech startup services will
enable 450,000 farmers hire tractors, use solarpowered irrigation, receive soil test results, receive
mobile-based precision agricultural advice, accesstimely credit through mobile wallets, and sell theirharvests through e-marketplace platforms87.

Overview of youth in agriculture and techEven though Uganda’s economic growth rates havebeen relatively high over the previous decade, formal
employment creation has been less than the growthrate. There remain challenges to bridge the gap
between economic growth and job creation and to
tackle the growing joblessness among young people
in particular. The creation of decent jobs for thesefast-growing youth workforce is a challenge which
Uganda’s development agenda has accorded a highlevel of priority.
Robust government job creation is essential inorder to absorb young people who enter theemployment market and to curb an alreadyhigh youth unemployment rate. Ugandan youth

economic possibilities in agricultural fields throughthe Feed-The-Future program had been soughtby the US Agency for International Development

economy, and encouraging gender equality andsocial integration in farming88.
One of the latest agritech contributions toagriculture in Uganda is from Grainpulse, a Ugandan
supply chain platform for farmers. The startup

has partnered with the International FinanceCorporation (IFC) and the Private Sector Windowof the Global Agriculture and Food Security
Program (GAFSP) to raise $11 million.

The aim is to strengthen farmers’ supply chain,increase food production and economic growth in
the country. The agritech startup, Grainpulse has alsoplanned to launch an online platform for farmers
to easily access information on best practices. They
will also provide training for agro-input dealers andretailers on financial management skills to help
them expand and secure access to finance89.

(USAID) via the Youth Leadership for Agriculture
Activity (YLA).
The activity aimed at increasing revenues andbuilding entrepreneurship, management andreadiness skills for employees. This also enabled thecompany to generate job opportunities for young
people, especially for women, which, in turn, served
YLA’s objectives of empowering youth, boosting the87

The World Bank Group, 2020. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/agriculture/overview#3 , https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/project-detail/P145037

88

USAID Feed The Future Uganda Youth Leadership for Agriculture Activity, 2020. https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/Feed-The-Future-YouthLeadership-for-Agriculture-Lessons-Learned-and-Recommendations.pdf

89

COUNTRY
PROFILE

Afrikan Heroes, 2019. Ugandan Agritech Startup Grainpulse Raises $11M To Link Farmers To Fertilizer & Markets

UGANDATHE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY43

NIGERIA
Overview of country information
The Federal Republic of Nigeria is a food deficit country and themost populous country in Africa with an estimated populationof 209 million as of 202190 and among the largest in terms ofland area (923,770km2)91. According to the Food and Agriculture

Organization (FAO), Nigeria has approximately 74.5 million hectaresof available agricultural land, about half of which is currently being
utilized. Nigeria’s GDP growth rate has been consistently positivesince 2016, further boosted to 2.2% in 201992.
Prior to independence, Nigeria had a significant agricultural sector,
however that has since declined and the country has moved
toward heavy dependence on imports for food93. The Nigerian
economy, one of Africa’s largest, is dominated by the oil industry,
which is the government’s key source of revenue.
The economy has diversified in recent years, the non-oil sector
including the agriculture sector now contributes significantly to the
GDP of the country.

44

90

NPC 2021, Nigeria’s Population 2021

91

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 2021, Nigeria CountryStat

92

World Bank (2020); Nigeria World Bank Data

93

ibid

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGYOverview of Agriculture:
Current realities

36%
OF NIGERIA’S
WORKINGPOUPULATIONIS EMPLOYED IN
AGRICULTURE

Agriculture accounted for about 27% ofNigeria’s GDP in 2020 , compared to an
94

average of 14% of GDPs across Sub-SaharanAfrica95. The sector employs up to 36% of thecountry’s working population, more than 80%of these people are smallholder farmers96.

LEADINGPRODUCERSOF RICE

Nigeria’s primary crops are rice, wheat, maize,

IN AFRICA

seven million tonnes consumed annually97. The

cotton, soybeans and cassava. Rice remains anessential staple for most Nigerians, with aroundcountry is Africa’s leading producer of rice.
Yet, the overall farm yield in Nigeria is well
below the African average.

Challenges

the programs such as poor rural infrastructure
which ranked among the worst in the world inSince the 1970s, agriculture in Nigeria has

the 2018 Global Competitiveness Report from

faced numerous challenges that have resulted

the World Economic Forum99; some of the new

in low yields and post-harvest losses. These

technologies remain unappealing to farmers ininclude resource shortages (limited access

Nigeria because they are cumbersome to thoseto inputs supply, inadequate irrigation, andwho control less than 1.7 hectares of farmland.

harvesting systems), violent conflict (nomadic

Careful rural infrastructure development will

herdsmen conflict with crop farmers andparticularly improve the productivity of theconflict in food producing states), outdated

smallholders in the rural areas and evidently

system of agriculture (limited adoption ofscale their output.

modern technology). Absence of value additionand supply-chain linkages, insufficient supply
to meet population growth and food demand,and lack of access to finance have exacerbatedthe situation, leaving Nigeria, a former

has dropped, as more digital solutions suchproductivity compared to its neighbours .

as cloud computing, computing systems,
connectivity, open-source software, andOpportunities

rice imports. Nigeria is also the largest global
producer of cassava, producing around 50

million metric tonnes annually. Both crops

Over the years, Nigeria’s agricultural sector has
seen numerous developmental initiatives toare grown predominantly by smallholder

improve the yields and food security in the

farmers, who sell around 80% of their harvest.

country. The weak fundamental challenges arestill preventing farmers from benefiting from

94

National Bureau of Statistics (2020)

95

World Bank Africa GDP Data

96

PWC (September, 2020), Current State of Nigeria Agriculture and Agribusiness Sector.

97

Russon, M. (12 April 2019), Boosting rice production in Nigeria. BBC.

98

World Bank Africa GDP Data99

WEF. 2018. ‘The Global Competitiveness Report 2018’ (http://www3.weforum.org/docs/GCR2018/05FullReport/ TheGlobalCompetitivenessReport2018.pdf)

COUNTRY
PROFILENIGERIA

work and how they can help improve yields.
The barrier of entry into farming technology

globally and one of its largest consumers,
despite the government’s efforts to reduce

interested in how smallholders farmers

agricultural powerhouse, with low agricultural
98

Nigeria is one of the largest importers of rice

African agri-tech entrepreneurs are now

other digital tools have become increasingly
affordable and accessible. Entrepreneurs can
now deliver solutions to small-size African

farms at cost models that farmers can afford.
The government can address the agricultural
challenges in Nigeria by investing in
agriculture’s fundamental necessities
and partnering with the private sector to

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY45

drive more inclusive investments. Public

infrastructure for agriculture remains in direneed of government funding.

This trend is further highlighted by the ageing
farming population in Africa. Available datafrom Nigeria reveals that the current averageage of a farmer is between 55 and 60 years.

The government also needs to partner withprivate sectors operators to use PPPs to

The deployment of emerging technologies

achieve scale – other sectors demonstrate thein agriculture is driving youth inclusion into

potential of PPPs to do this.

the sector. Young people are more readyOverview of youth in agriculture and tech
Nigeria prides herself in having one of thehighest concentrations of young people in
the world. In 2020, the UN projected about
43% of the Nigerian population is children(0-14 years), 19% are between 15-24 years andabout 62% are below 25 years100. Despite theteeming young population, Nigeria’s youth

unemployment rate stood at 14.2%101 which
is more than the population of Rwanda andseveral other African countries.

Agriculture presents a unique opportunity
for Nigeria’s youth, not only because it is thelargest contributor to GDP in most Africancountries, but also because it continues toand eager to master these new technologies
and apply them to agriculture to increase
productivity and solve challenges. At thesame time, these technologies can help
demonstrate to youth that agriculture can bea viable and profitable business opportunity,
increasing the desirability of agriculture related
career pathsNigeria has one of the most active
agritech ecosystems in Africa along with Kenya
and Ghana, collectively accounting for 60% ofactive agritech startups in Africa102.
Youths are championing digital solutions
that address some of the key agricultural
challenges in Nigeria. Notable mentions
include AFEX, Farmcrowdy, ThriveAgric,Agromall, and Releaf among others.

experience significant growth. However, youth
remain uninterested in agriculture.

46

100

UN Population Division (2020)101

https://www.statista.com/statistics/812300/youth-unemployment-rate-in-nigeria/

102

Shapshak, T. (9 May 2018), African Agri-tech Start-ups Boom With 110% Growth Since 2016. Forbes.

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGYCOUNTRY
PROFILENIGERIATHE INNOVATORSTo leverage Africa’s
growing youth
demographic, agriculture
must be made appealing
as a career path. Throughbranding, we change therhetoric of a farmer beingpoor and uneducated.
Farmz2U’s Ambassador
program and FFT(Food For
Thought) challenge aresome mediums throughwhich youth engagementin agriculture is scaled.

Startup: Farmz2u

Organization: Farmcrowdy

Location: Nigeria

Location: Nigeria

Overview:

Overview:

Founder: Aisha Raheem

Farmz2U is an ag-tech startup that provides
technology solutions to farmers and end-

Founder: Onyeka Akumah

Farmcrowdy is a global
Agtech company focused on

consumers.

helping stakeholders in the

Innovation:

their output and increase

It employs artificial intelligence (AI), machine

their profits with technology.

learning and enterprise databases inThis gives the farmers theproviding functionality that achieves twocapacity to farm more acres

primary objectives; reducing food waste andand by extension leads toenhancing nutritional management.

increased food production

Smallholder Farmers Reached:
2000-5000
Website:www.farmz2u.com

Social Media Page:
Social Media Page: Facebook; Farmz2u

food value chain maximize

chain participants within
their network with accessto finance. It also helps
to reduce the cost of
production, open market
access and allows farmers toharvest better yields - all in
one place..

Smallholder Farmers
Reached: 1m+
Website:www.farmcrowdy.com

and security in Africa.

Social Media Page:

Innovation:

Facebook; FarmCrowdy

Farmcrowdy’s gamechanging platform

Social Media Page:

Instagram:@farmcrowdyng
Twitter:@farmcrowdy(Farmgate) leverages
technology to connect over
420,000 food value

Instagram:@Farmz2u Twitter:@Farmz2u

COUNTRY
PROFILENIGERIATHE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY47

GHANA
Overview of country information
Ghana has a population of about 31.5million103 with a landarea of 23,853,900 ha104 , agricultural land accounting for 65%
of the land area and a GDP of about USD 67.34 billion in 2020(a per capita GDP of 2,190 USD in 2020)105 .

The population growth rate has seen a steady decline from2000 and currently stands at 2.15%106. In Ghana, the agriculture
sector was the main driver of GDP growth, recording 8.3% in
Q3, 2020. It should be noted that Ghana’s GDP growth which
has been consistently positive since 2018 further rose by 6.5% in2019107.
The key exports are cocoa, timber, precious minerals, horticulture
produce and fish. Cocoa is the major agricultural export ofGhana, and the country is the second largest exporter of Cocoa
globally. Cocoa drives Ghana’s economy. In 2019, it is reported
that Ghana produced over 800 thousand tons of Cocoa108.

48

103

https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/ghana-population/

104

FAO 2016 GHANA country data

105

2020 Ghana Stats

106

Ibid

107

World Bank (2020); The World bank in Ghana

108

Statista, 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/497844/production-of-cocoa-beans-in-ghana/

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGYOverview of Agriculture:
Current realities

17%
OF GHANA’S GDP IS
CONTRIBUTED BY
AGRICULTURE.

The Agriculture sector contributes about
17% to Ghana’s GDP. Even though Ghana’s
agricultural sector is well-placed to contributeto the attainment of Ghana development
goals, its growth performance has been erratic.
This irregular performance is driven by variable

52%

rainfall and cocoa production and price

OF GHANA’SPOPULATIONARE ENGAGED IN
AGRICULTURE

fluctuations including international prices ofexport commodities such as cocoa109. Morethan half of the country’s workforce (52%)
are currently engaged in agriculture110.

Crop farming constitutes the largest shareof Ghana’s agricultural GDP compared tolivestock production, with cocoa, oil palm,
coffee, and rubber ranking as the mostsignificant crops. In recent years, growth in
non-agricultural services and other industrial
sectors has outpaced that in agriculture.
Agriculture, nonetheless, continues to growat a strong pace (e.g., 8.4% in 2017), thanks, in

Challenges

Opportunities

Ghana is faced with a bitter reality, a decline in

The agriculture sector is a key contributor

agricultural productivity continues to threaten

to Ghana’s export earnings, and it is thethe economic development of the country.

major employer of labour in the rural areas.

Smallholder farmers lack access to theAgriculture is the primary driver of rural

their yield. Urbanization efforts in the country

sector employing over 40% of the population113.

financial support they require to improve

employment especially for the poor, with thehave also led to more non-farm jobs.

Agriculture and agribusiness hold a major
share in the country’s economic activities, andThis has reduced Ghana’s agricultural

two-thirds of non-oil manufacturing depends

competitiveness by increasing the need foron agriculture for raw materials114. There isimported foods. Farmers in remote areas havepotential for the sector to drive economic

no/limited access to information and how todiversification in Ghana.

process the information gathered like crop
rotation, the use of fertilizer, etc., farmers are

The government’s agriculture initiatives show aunable to understand due to illiteracy112.

willingness to revamp the sector and support
farmers. Through the Planting for Foods andLimited access to fertilizers, poor transportation

Jobs (PFJ) program, the government wants

and storage facilities are also contributing

to promote food security, provide jobs, andto the decreased productivity in the sector.

improve farm productivity. The government

All of these challenges have contributed todecreased youth participation in agriculture.

part, to government support via a number ofinterventions111.

in partnership with development financeinstitutions such as the International

Fund for Agricultural Development are

implementing many agric-focused initiatives
aimed at helping rural farmers improve farmand off-farm activities.

109

ibid

110

FAO website (http://www.fao.org/ghana/fao-in-ghana/ghana-at-a-glance/en/).

111

ibid

112

IFPR October 2019: Ghana Economic and Agricultural Transformation

113

Ifpri, June 2019: Employment, diversifying rural livelihoods, and youth: Lessons for Ghana from the 2019 Global Food Policy Report

114

World Bank Group (2018); 3rd Ghana Economic Update

COUNTRY
PROFILEGHANA

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY49

Public Private Partnerships provide an opportunity to

The unemployment rate of youths in Ghana stands atdevelop Ghana’s agriculture sector.

9.46%117. The youths are a critical demography to Ghana’s
economic growth through agriculture. The average age ofAgriculture is a viable driver of economic diversification insmallholder farmers in 55 years, and the life expectancy

it serves as a major source of its foreign exchange.

reshape agriculture in the country. The urbanisation of the

The country captures 20% of the global cocoa market sharea contributing factor to the youths’ lack of interest in the

but it processes 15% of its cocoa beans into finished goods,

sector.

Ghana. Ghana is the second largest exporter of cocoa andis between 55-65 years. The youths can be positioned tocountry as well as the narrative of farmers being poor are

and the final consumer goods market for cocoa is worth$87bn115. A focus on cocoa processing and value addition,

In a bid to encourage youth participation in agriculture, theand investments encouraging entrepreneurial activities will

Ghanian government launched the Youth in Agriculture

create a viable diversified economy for the country. Asides

Program. Asides encouraging youths to embrace agriculture,cocoa, other major crops are in roots and tubers (yam andthe program has other objectives of producing food using

cocoyam), maize and cassava.The human factor. Agriculture

modern methods and generating enough income to meet

employs over 40% of people living in rural areas in Ghana.

farmers needs118.

Many of the smallholder farmers still engage in rudimentary
agriculture, and this contributes to the low-yield challenge.

Agritech startups in Ghana are changing the narrative

Developing the capacity of the smallholder farmer and farms

with startups like Agrocenta connecting stakeholders inincludes providing access to finance, education, introduction

the staple food value chain. AcquahMeyer uses precision

to digitisation services, and technical know-how.

agriculture to provide insights on water management

Overview of youth in agriculture and tech
Ghana’s youth policy defines youth as anyone between
the ages of 15-35116. The youth make up 35.9% of Ghana’s
population, and are faced with unemployment challenges.

50

and disease prevention. Esoko uses high-tech digital
tools to help smallholder farmers maximize production.
In Ghana, agritech startups have the potential to makeagriculture more attractive to young people, and increase its
contribution to the GDP.

115

Marie Noelle Nwokolo, 2020, Ghana’s Great Agricultural Opportunity

104

FAO 2016 GHANA country data

105

2020 Ghana Stats

106

Ibid

107

World Bank (2020); The World bank in Ghana

108

Statista, 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/497844/production-of-cocoa-beans-in-ghana/

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGYCOUNTRY
PROFILEGHANA

THE INNOVATORS‘Larmies Techtronics is of the strong conviction that 21st-century agriculture mustbe youth-led and technology driven because smart agricultural practice is the surest
way of feeding the ever-growing global population’

Organization: Agroinnova

Founder: Moses Mallaghan
Location: Ghana

Startup: LarmiesTechtronics
Founder: Ernest Larmie
Location: Ghana

Agriculture innovation is the assuredmeans of improving farming in Africa,
and also the only bait to get more youth
into farming since it makes farming
attractive to the youth.

Overview:

manufactures electronic devices that
help in solving agricultural problems.

Innovation:
In collaboration with AIscarecrowthey
have been able to design and build
a drone and a stationary sound forscaring birds in rice farms.

Agroinnova deploys asuite of software tools
and technology-enabled
platforms which help tostreamline businesses acrossthe agricultural sector.

LarmiesTechtronics is a techcompany that designs andOverview:

Also, in partnership with Eden Lab, they aredeveloping device that will help mushroom
farmers to boost their yield.

Website: www.e2lab.tech
Social Media Page:
Instagram: @larmieernest

Innovation:
AkokoTakra is a poultry farmmanagement software
which enables poultry
farmers to record, analyseand make data driven
decisions on their farms

and others in the daily
application of Farmer
Business School tools totheir business

Smallholder Farmers
Reached: 13,000
Website:www.agroinnovagh.com

Social Media Page:
Social Media Page:
Facebook;

Agro Innova Ghana
Instagram:@agroinnovaghana
Twitter:@agroinnovaghanausing a smartphone or
laptop. They also created
FBSInnova to assist
smallholder cocoa farmers

COUNTRY
PROFILEGHANA

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY

51

SENEGAL
Overview of country information
Senegal is a western African country laid on the plainsaround the North-Atlantic Ocean, Guinea-Bissau, andMauritania. The country has a total land area of 192.530
sq km of which 46% is used as agricultural land. Out of

this estimate about 29.1% constitutes permanent pasturewhile only 17.4% is arable. Out of the 16.1 million estimatedpopulation, 70% of the inhabitants are rural dwellers 119.

The economy of the country is based on agriculture and othersectors like mining, tourism, and construction. Senegal earns
its major export income from agricultural products and fish.
Watermelons, groundnuts, rice, cassava, maize, sorghum,
millet, onions, sugar cane, and vegetables are major crops
planted and processed in Senegal.
Fishing is also a major part of the country’s agribusiness.
Agriculture sector in Senegal employs about 77.5% of thetotal population120.

52

119

CIA 2021. https://www,cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/senegal/

120

CIA 2021. https://www,cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/senegal/

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGYOverview of Agriculture:
Current realities

40%
OF SENEGAL’SAGRICULTURE
IS GROUNDNUTCULTIVATION

Agriculture is a primary sector in Senegal.
About two-thirds of export revenues comefrom agriculture. Also, more than 70%
rural population depend on agriculture
for food and livelihood121. Agriculture

contributes almost 19% to the GDP of the

150k

country122. Approximately 150,000 people

SENEGALESE ARE
SMALLHOLDERFARMERSare smallholder farmers in Senegal. Most offarming in Senegal is subsistence.
Much of the government’s involvement
and subsidies in agriculture is directed
to groundnut production. This is because
groundnut takes 40% of the cultivation in
Senegal .
123

Challenges
Despite significant economic growth anddecades of political stability, Senegal stillencounters serious development challenges.
More than one third of the population lives
below the poverty line, and 75 percent offamilies suffer from chronic poverty124. Poverty
and food insecurity are particularly prevalent

in rural areas in the north, east and south

Gender inequalities also plague Senegal’sof the country. This is because much of

agricultural sector. Women produce about

urbanisation is focused on west Senegal.

80% of the country’s food yet they are not as

The agriculture sector is dominated byempowered125.

to good quality seeds and fertilizers,

Opportunities

insurance and post-harvest storage

Despite agriculture’s importance, Senegal

subsistence farming, with limited accesstechnology, finance and credit, agricultural
techniques.

lies within the drought-prone Sahel region,

Farmers still focus on traditional andsoils. As a result, Senegal relies on imports tounsustainable agricultural practices likeovergrazing and bush fires which in turncontributes to land degradation. Climatechange is also closely associated with rural
poverty and under-development. Seventy
percent of the crops are rain-fed and thesector is highly vulnerable to climate shocks,
which contribute to unavailability andwith irregular rainfall and generally poor
meet approximately 70 percent of its foodneeds. Top agricultural imports in Senegal
are rice, wheat, corn, onions, palm oil, sugar,
and potatoes. Sauces, mixed condiments,
seasonings, and beef and beef products may
have export growth potential for U.S. suppliersinterested in the Senegalese market.
Due to this, President MackySall’s economic

increased prices of food.

program focuses on agriculture as an engine

The lack of employment and business$4 billion in agriculture. The agricultural

opportunities in agriculture is a driver of
migration, urbanization and emigration. Thoseleft behind, especially women, children andthe elderly, are particularly exposed to foodinsecurity and other risks.

for development and envisages investingplan calls for massive investments in
irrigation and rural roads, access to financethrough the creation of a Guarantee Fund,the construction of storage facilities, thedevelopment of the fishing sector, and the121

The World Bank, 2016. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2016/05/17/world-bank-smallholder-farmers-in-senegal-receive-support-to-improve-agricultural-productivity

122

Nations Encyclopedia, 2010. https://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Africa/Senegal-AGRICULTURE.html

123

New Agriculturist. www.new-ag.info/en/country/profile.php?a=530

124

WFP 2020. https://www.wfp.org/countries/senegal

125

IFAD 2016. https://www.ifad.org/en/web/operations/country/id/senegal

COUNTRY
PROFILESENEGAL

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY53

creation of an agricultural stock exchange market.

The two major means of carrying out the projectWithin the framework of the project, steps were

Increased commodity output would also stimulate

is to institutionalise sustainable positive youth

taken to explore examples (MIJARC/IFAD/FAO, 2012)

the demand for processing technology and growthdevelopment and introduce vocational training toshowing how one or more of these core challenges

in the packaging industry. There are plans for abuild dynamic, profitable entrepreneurship, andwere successfully addressed.

cereal (import oriented) and fruit (export oriented)

employment opportunities for youth. The focus is toterminal and associated warehousing facilities in theensure their involvement in the agricultural sector

Port of Dakar.

and market at large128.

Overview of youth in agriculture and tech

Bayseddo was also launched in 2016. It is a network

Increase in demand and the need to facilitate
the economy are some of the results of rapid
population growth. If the population is growing andthe economy is not growing, it may result in low
GDP. Youth ages in Senegal is 15-24 years and theyaccount for about 20% of the country’s population126.
Likewise, about 20% of young people in Senegal are
unemployed127.
Center for International Research, Education, andDevelopment (CIRED) understands that youths are
the future of a nation because they have essential
skills to contribute to the country’s economic
development. The Feed the Future Senegal Youthin Agriculture of 2018 was launched to leverage
the skills, confidence, and knowledge of youths in
Senegal.

54

for farmers, especially young farmers and investors
in Senegal to optimise agriculture through digitaltechnology. By 2017, a year after the establishment,
Bayseddo won the CTA’s Pitch Agrihack. The initiative
will help to modernise traditional agriculture
practice to give it a greater scope through digitaltechnology.
The initiative now boasts of about 84 investors. By
2025, Bayseddo hopes to have integrated the use ofdrones for optimising farming129.
Agritech is helping to seize the potentials in the
youth, coming up with the project Engaging Rural
Youths from all over the world to identify a core setof challenges that should be overcome for youth tocreate or seize decent work opportunities in rural
areas and to reverse the rural exodus.

126

Center for International Research, Education, and Development. https://cired.vt.edu/programs/feed-the-future-senegal-youth-in-agriculture.html

127

IFAD 2016. https://www.ifad.org/en/web/operations/country/id/senegal

128

Center for International Research, Education, and Development. Feed the Future Senegal Youth in Agriculture | Center for International Research, Education, and Development | Virginia Tech

129

CTA 2018. Bayseddo: a digital platform to boost agriculture in Senegal

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGYCOUNTRY
PROFILESENEGAL

MALAWI
Overview of country information
Malawi is landlocked in Southern Africa, sharing its boundaries
with Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania. As of January 2021,
Malawi estimated its population to be more than 19 million,

with 52.2% young people between the ages of 15 and 64, 7.52%
unemployed and 61.94% employed130.

Despite major economic and structural reforms to sustain
economic growth, Malawi remains one of the world’s poorest
countries. The economy depends heavily on agriculture, withnearly 80% of the population involved in agriculture and issusceptible to external shocks, especially weather shocks131. In
Malawi the agricultural sector has usually been divided into two
principal sub-sectors: smallholder and estate. Approximately 2
million farm families comprise smallholder farmers and cultivate
approximately 4.5 million hectares of land.
The production of smallholders is majorly subsistence, that is,
low input and low output levels characterize it. Roughly 25% ofsmallholders grow under 0.5 ha on average; 55% grow less than
1.0 hectares; 31% grow from one to two hectares and 14% farm
more than 2 hectares. Although resources are scarce, small-scale
farmers produce 80% of Malawi’s food and 20% of its agricultural
exports132.

130

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs: Population Division, 2021. Malawi population (2021) live — Countrymeters

131

The World Bank in Malawi, 2021. Malawi Overview

132

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, 2015. MALAWITHE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY55

Overview of Agriculture:
Current realities

75%

OF THEPOPULATIONLIVE IN RURAL
AREAS WITH
SMALL FARMS

Malawi is considered to be one of theworld’s poorest countries (World Bank Data,
2017) where agriculture depends heavily
on the economy (mainly on subsistence ofthe majority of the population) and crop
diversification is less important. Maize is

still the most important crop in the South50.7%

LIVING BELOW
THE POVERTY
LINE AS AT 2016

African country. Agricultural intensificationand diversification that benefits the whole
population is a need expressed by all
stakeholders.

In Malawi, 75% of the total population live inrural areas and depend on agriculture (maize

2.5m

RURAL HOUSEHOLDSARE FARMERSREPRESENTING
90% OF THE RURALPOPULATION

production predominantly) with 50.7% living
below the poverty line in 2016. Malawi farms
are small farms and the effects of climatechange, instability of the economy, andpolicies have made most of the rural poor
extremely vulnerable. Due to policies like the1967 Land Act which transfers the land froma smallholder sector to the estate sector andincreases the birth rate, the size of these farms
has declined drastically over many years toabout 0.5 ha per capita.
Development of Malawi is deeply rooted inagriculture and was crucial for the eradication

133

56

of poverty, especially as the impact of the

55% grow less than one hectare; 31% growstructural adjustment program resulted infrom one to two hectares and 14% farm more

the decline of the manufacturing sector.

than two hectares. Despite their resource

However the transformational potential

poverty, smallholders produce around 80% ofof the agriculture-based economy ischallenged by socio-economic factors like

HIV/AIDS prevalence, high mortality rates, low

Malawi’s food and 20% of farm exports. The
land for cultivation in tobacco, tea, sugar orcoffee is mainly freehold or leased. Tobacco

diversification, low value-added agricultureis the largest export cash crop in Malawi withand inequalities.

more than 50% of export earnings and tea
and sugar follow. Malawi produces about 3

Because of its contribution to the GDP

million tons of maize, above the 2.3 million ton

and the workforce, agriculture is the main

autonomy level133.

pillar of Malawi’s economy. It accounts forapproximately 82.5% of the foreign exchange
profit and 80% of the workforce. It accounts
for around 37% of GDP. The character ofagriculture is a dual structure of commercial
properties which are largely concerned withthe growing of cash crops and a large smallscale farming sub-sector. About 2.5 to 3 million
rural households are farmers with customaryland tenure, representing over 90% of therural population. Some 60% of smallholders
are net buyers of maize and only 10% are

net sellers. Smallholder farmers are mainly
subsistence-based and are distinguishedby the cultivation of small and fragmented

landholdings. More than 80 percent of the 2.4
million hectares cultivated by small farmers
are planted with maize. Roughly 25% ofsmallholders grow under 0.5 ha on average;

Challenges
Malawi has been working to develop
agricultural markets in recent years throughincreased liberalization, rural marketingand information systems development on
the agricultural markets, and commodity
exchange. The agriculture sector is below

its capacity, although there is potential for
better production and productivity. This

continues to put the country in a state andhousehold situation in food shortages. Malawi
was also affected in recent times by fallingarmyworms, which have had a major impact
on maize production. Sectoral challenges
include vulnerability to weather shocks, poor
land, water and soil management, low useof agrarian technologies, lack of continuity inmarkets in rural areas, poor access to finances

SAIRLA, A Political Economy of Inclusion in Agricultural Intensification (Malawi Country Report), 2018. https://www.keg.lu.se/en/sites/keg.lu.se.en/files/malawi_pea_report.pdf

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MALAWI

and farm inputs, low mechanization and technical

Local demand is growing and the local economy

The large number of poor farmers and workers inlabor skills, limited market price information forincreases significantly as non-traditional food crops,

agriculture, the importance of food costs in poor

farmers, a limited irrigation system and weak ties tosuch as horticultural crops, are being produced. In

people’s budgets, and the importance of food formarkets.

comparison to the food or cash crops consumed

their nutrition also mean that these growth canoutside the local economy, the revenue flows

have very large, pro-poor, and welfare impacts.

The irrigation potential of the country remains

resulting from these activities tend to have dense

Further opportunities may emerge from agricultural

underused, despite being one of the priority issues

networks in the local economy. Promoting thesepotential to benefit from climate change funds, forin national agricultural politics, only about 116,249

horticultural crops offers the agricultural sector

example through payments for carbon sequestration

hectares (29%) were constructed for irrigation

untapped opportunities.

to fund the development of organic soil content

of approximately 407,862 hectares. This trend has

Investment opportunities also exist on different

purposes in 2017/18 out of the estimated potential

because this would benefit soil fertility, soil moisturea negative impact on farm growth, exports, food andscales in agro-processing industries. In Malawi, thefood safety134.

majority of agro-processed products are imported,which provides an opportunity to replace them.

Opportunities

In addition, increasing supermarkets, especially

There are a number of opportunities for Malawian
agriculture. Opportunities to improve crop
production and animal husbandry, market systems
and access, soil and fertility management andinfrastructure development are significant. The
presence of short to medium term trappingsof productivity also allows ‘vicious circles’ to betransformed into ‘virtual spirals’ if resources can be
efficiently and consistently mobilized for addressing
key causes of these traps.

in urban areas, offer additional opportunities forconnecting small farmers to supermarkets supplying
horticultural products and processed agricultural
products, through aggregation mechanisms andstructures.
Meanwhile, the huge amount of land and laborinvested nationally in small-scale farming means that
there is a more widespread potential for relatively
low growth in the entire sector than for higher
growth rates in much smaller areas or sub-sectors.

holding capacity, and cultivation135.

Overview of youth in agriculture and tech
The largest and fastest growing share of Malawi’s
population are young people. As of January 2021,
52.2% of the population was between 15-64 yearsof age136. The population of Malawi is largely young
with 80% less than 35 years of age and a medianof 17137.

FAO’s mandate is to increase nutrition, increase
agricultural productivity, enhance rural life andhelp the world economy grow. The FAO has worked
during the past four decades on strengthening andexpanding the capacity, knowledge and skills ofyoung people (through education and training) and134

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Malawi Office Section Paper, 2020. https://www.jica.go.jp/malawi/english/activities/c8h0vm00004bpzlh-att/agriculture.pdf

135International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Malawi Strategy Support Program, 2015. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/masspwp13.pdf

136

Worldometer 2021. https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/malawi-population/

137

ILO. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_emp/documents/publication/wcms_228279.pdf

COUNTRY
PROFILE

MALAWITHE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
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creating rural jobs in supporting youths and young agricultural
producers. Strategic Objective Three of FAO’s New Strategic
Framework 2010–2019, “Reduce Rural Poverty”, recognizes thatrural youth should be treated as a priority group when it comesto accessing decent employment opportunities.
The Agricultural Productivity Program for Southern Africa(APPSA), a regional program for Malawi, Mozambique andZambia, was therefore established to increase availability of
improved agricultural technologies through: the establishmentof Regional Centers of Leadership (RCoLs) on commodities
of regional importance, regional collaboration in agriculturalresearch, technology dissemination, and training, andincreased sharing of agricultural information, knowledge, andtechnology among participating countries.
After seven years, there have been significant changes, withmore than 4.6 million people benefiting from the project in all
the three countries. In Mozambique, one million beneficiaries
were reached, while the project reached about 1.3 million in
Zambia, and nearly 2.4 million in Malawi138.

138

58

World Bank Group, 2020. Farmers in Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia Adopt Agriculture Technologies to Improve Yield, Efficiency

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MALAWIZAMBIA
Overview of country information
Zambia is a large, landlocked, resource-rich country

with sparsely populated land139. Zambia is located inCentral Southern Africa with an area of 752,618 sq km.

Approximately 31.7% of the land area in Zambia is used for
agriculture.

Only about 4.8 is arable. The population of Zambia is about 19.1
million. The country is experiencing a large demographic shift
and most of the population is urban-based. It is estimated thatthe population will experience a yearly increase of 2.8%140.

Overview of Agriculture: Current realities
Given the large expanse of arable land and abundant rainfall
in Zambia, the country can enjoy an economic boom fromagriculture. In Zambia, agriculture activities are mostly small
scale, medium scale and large scale. The sector deals withcrops, fish, and livestock. Agriculture contributes to about

20% of the country’s GDP with an employment rate of threequarters (54.8%)of the total population. Crops like maize,

cassava, and millet are the major domestic crops in Zambia.
Export crops are sugar, rice, groundnuts, soybeans, cotton, andhorticulture produces (cut flowers and roses)141.

139

The World Bank 2021. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/zambia/overview

140

CIA 2021. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/zambia/

141

International Trade Administration 2020. https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/zambia-agriculture

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Smallholder farmers are about 1.5 million of
the population of which 20% of them are

31.7%

OF THE LAND AREA
IN ZAMBIA IS USEDFOR AGRICULTURE

women. Most of them practise subsistence
farming and they are unable to afford
agricultural inputs or capitals to expand theirfarming .
142

Challenges
Agricultural productivity in Zambia is

20%

OF COUNTRY’S
GDP IS FROMAGRICULTURE

1.5m

OF THE POPULATIONARE SMALLHOLDERFARMERS WHO ARE
WOMEN

60

Opportunities
The Zambian government seeks to promoteagriculture as a way to diversify the economy
away from an overreliance on copper. The
government is working to develop farm blocks
in all ten provinces for large and medium
commercial farming, fish farming, andlivestock production. Private equity and otherinvestors are active in this sector.

lower than expected. Also, there are many
challenges that are plaguing smallholders toAgricultural cultivation in Zambia is mostly

access needed resources for farming. Despite

non-mechanized, and the sector is rain-fed.

all its positive predispositions, agriculture in

Opportunities include large-scale farming,

Zambia remains largely underexploited withfarm inputs and equipment supply, irrigation

only 15% of its potential arable land undersystems, agro-processing, and commodity

cultivation. The Zambian fisheries sector

trading. The sector is in dire need ofcurrently produces less than half of what it

mechanization143.

should be producing.

markets for inputs and outputs, promoting
accessibility to financing and credits,
increasing the private sector’s participation,
improving food security, and implementing
environment-friendly practices145.
In Zambia, IFAD introduced loans to support
the commercialization of smallholder
agriculture, in particular by enhancing cropand livestock productivity. They also create
links between small-scale farmers andsuppliers and market intermediaries, andhelp to increase access to rural financial
services by small-scale farmers146. The IFAD
country strategic opportunities programme isdesigned to help poor smallholders in remoteareas make the best use of natural resources
to improve food production and food security.

Zambia National Agriculture Policy Draft
Some other challenges are high cost of inputs,(2012-2030) aims to tackle the sector’spoor rural infrastructure, lack of oxen for

issues through adequate strategies144. Theseploughing, and the absence of rural financial

strategies include: increasing its production

Zambia has a growing youth population147.

services — although, there are some forms ofand productivity, strengthening agriculturalThose who are within 15-24 years arelimited community-based schemes. These

extension service delivery, increasing the area

considered as youth in Zambia with aissues make it difficult for smallholders toof land under irrigation as well as levels of

population of about 20.03 % of the total

access needed resources.

mechanization among smallholder farmers,

population. Youth do not naturally want to get

improving the efficiency of agricultural

involved in agriculture.

142

IFAD. https://www.ifad.org/en/web/operations/country/id/zambia

143

International Trade Administration 2020. https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/zambia-agriculture

144

FAOLEX DATABASE 2011. http://www.fao.org/faolex/results/details/en/c/LEX-FAOC174991/

145

Zambia Invest 2013. https://www.zambiainvest.com/agriculture.

146

IFAD. https://www.ifad.org/en/web/operations/country/id/zambia

147

The World Bank 2021. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/zambia/overview

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY

Overview of youth in agriculture and tech

COUNTRY
PROFILEZAMBIAReasons include the perception of agriculture as old

The project also aimed at strengthening the capacity

APMEP is developing irrigation schemes, intensifying

and unprofitable, lack of incentives to boost theirof 300 young farmers from the Chibombo region toagricultural mechanization, promoting conservation

skills, minimum wage, etc148. The best way to get

become more business oriented and develop theiragriculture, crop diversification, and enhanced

them involved is to introduce modern technology forcapacities in organic farming .

aquaculture and livestock development in Zambia

151

agriculture.

as part of an integrated agriculture value chain
In 2020, due to the aftermath of COVID-19 on

development under the Ministry of Agriculture.

AgriProFocus Zambia is an initiative launched

the economy and price of copper, more enabling
environments have been introduced for young

The project contributes to economic growth andtechnologies and opportunities in the field. Also,

farmers. The APMEP initiative is financed by thepoverty reduction by enhancing food security,

Global Agriculture and Food Security Program

incomes, and nutrition among participatingin agriculture. It will also be an avenue for them to(GAFSP), a Financial Intermediary Fund hosted

households.

in 2016 to invest in youth’s skills through new

the project aims to improve the opinions of youth
engage in more agribusiness opportunities .

within the World Bank Group. GAFSP provided

Since the introduction of this program, more youths

government for APMEP, and the African

149

have begun to take up agribusiness. The number isincreasing especially from urban youth population
who are engaging in agricultural production like

$31.13 million in grant funds to the Zambian

Development Bank disbursed the money andprovided technical expertise152.

crop, livestock production, and other agribusiness

The initiative is part of a longer-term drive bylinkage services150.

Zambia’s government to diversify its economy away

The Development Aid from People to People (DAPP)
also introduced the Climate Smart Agriculture andEntrepreneurship for Young Farmers Clubs Project.
The essence of this project is to instigate young
people’s interest and passion in agriculture andharness Zambia’s agricultural potential.

from copper. At its peak, copper accounted for

70% of Zambia’s foreign exchange earnings andclose to 30% of government revenue. However,since the 2008 global economic crisis, copper

prices increased by two-thirds, prompting thegovernment to invest more in sustainable sectors like
agriculture.

148

IFAD 2016. https://www.un.org/youthenvoy/2016/04/why-are-rural-youth-leaving-farming/

149

AgriProFocus 2016. htpps://www.agriprofocus.com/youth-in-zambia

150

Xinhua 2021. https://www.xinhua.net.com/english/africa/2021-02/19/c_139753155.htm

151

CTA 2017. https://www.cta.int/en/project/promoting-agricultural-entrepreneurship-among-rural-youth-in-zambia-sid06a445ee6-e775-49fb-ac94-260231f374c2

152

AFDB Group, 2020. https://www.afdb.org/en/success-stories/zambia-mine-field-agriculture-project-helps-youth-turn-away-copper-and-live-land-36948

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PROFILEZAMBIATHE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
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ZIMBABWE
Overview of country information
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in Southern Africa thathas a total land area of over 39 million hectares in which

33.3 million hectares are used for agricultural practices 153.
The remaining 6 million hectares have been reserved fornational parks and wildlife, and urban settlements. The
country comprises four physio-geographic regions, which
are the Eastern Highlands, the Highveld, the Middle veld andthe Low veld. Zimbabwe borders Botswana, the Republic ofSouth Africa, Mozambique, and Zambia. It has a populationof 12.084.304 inhabitants, of which 41.9% are below the age of
15 years154.

Overview of Agriculture: Current realities
Zimbabwe has a rich history in agriculture. The country’s
economy is reliant on agriculture. Zimbabweans remain
largely a rural people who earn a living from agriculture andother related rural economic activities.

62

153

FAO 2015. http://www.fao.org/zimbabwe/our-office-in-zimbabwe/zimbabwe-at-a-glance/en/154

FAO 2015. http://www.fao.org/zimbabwe/our-office-in-zimbabwe/zimbabwe-at-a-glance/en/

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60%
OF THE COUNTRY’S

Agricultural activities provide employment

for cash when need arises or during drought

Despite the high level of employment in theand income for 60-70 percent of thecrises. Zimbabwe’s smallholder system

sector, it directly contributes only 15-19%

population, supply 60% of the raw materials

has the potential to grow and become

to annual GDP, depending on the rainfall

required by the industrial sector andthe mainstream of the livestock sector’spattern (Government of Zimbabwe, 2010),

EMPLOYED IN

contribute 40 percent of total export earnings.

performance indicator.

and this is a statistic that understates the true

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture contributes approximately

POPULATION IS

12% to Zimbabwe’s GDP155. The cash andChallenges

tobacco, soybeans, cotton, maize, sorghum,

Much of Zimbabwe’s economic growth

crops (roses and cut flowers) .

livelihood for the majority of the population,

Livestock and livestock products contributedeterminant of rural livelihood resiliencefood crops produced in Zimbabwe are

12%

groundnuts, vegetable, and horticulture

OF GDP IS
CONTRIBUTED BY
AGRICULTURE

156

significantly to the economy of Zimbabwe,with cattle accounting for 35-38% of the Gross

comes from agriculture. As the main source ofthe performance of agriculture is a key
and poverty levels. General challenges
facing smallholder farmers include low

Domestic Product (GDP) . It is estimatedand erratic rainfall, low and declining soil

own cattle, 70-90% own goats, while overpower - labor and draft animals, poor157

al industry. It is generally accepted that when
agriculture performs poorly, the rest of theeconomy suffers158.
High competition in exports, low contribution of the agro sector in GDP are the big-gest constraints for the sector in Zimbabwe.
Also, post production management is theworst in the country, which makes it difficult
to transport fresh food on time. HyperInflationthat up to 60 percent of rural households

fertility, low investment, shortages of farm

80 percent own chickens. The importancephysical and institutional infrastructure,of livestock in rural livelihoods and foodpoverty and recurring food insecurity.

security lies in the provision of meat, milk,

Agricultural production is also vulnerable

eggs, hides and skins, draught power, andto periodic droughts. The peasant sector,

Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector is growing

manure. They also act as strategic household

which produces 70% of staple foods

due to the steadily rising tourism, increased

investment. Small ruminants (sheep andsuch as maize, millets, and groundnuts, islocal and global food consumption, moderngoats) and non-ruminants, particularly

particularly vulnerable as it has access totechnologies, low water requirement inpoultry, are an important safety net in theless than 5% of national irrigation facilities.

the horticulture process and government’s

event of a drought – they are easily disposable

155

Mangwana Capital, 2020. https://www.mangwanacapital.com/agriculture.html

156

International Trade Association 2020. https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/zimbabwe-agricultural-sectorr

157

FAO 2015. http://www.fao.org/zimbabwe/our-office-in-zimbabwe/zimbabwe-at-a-glance/en/

158

Mordor Intelligence, 2020. https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/agriculture-in-zimbabwe-industry

159

Mordor Intelligence, 2020. https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/agriculture-in-zimbabwe-industry

COUNTRY
PROFILE

importance and dominance of the agricultur-

ZIMBABWE

has destroyed the economy of the country,
resulting in a weak agro industry159.

Opportunities

infrastructure programs.

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
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Zimbabwe has a large amount of arable land which
creates a future for more involvement in agriculture.
LIkewise, horticulture is a recent trend in agricultural
production that is bringing improved agricultural
productivity and output. With a moderate population,
Zimbabwe is expected to boost its agro sector andgenerate a high GDP160.

Overview of youth in agriculture and tech
Zimbabwe is a youthful country, with approximately
67.7% of its 13 million total population under the ageof 35 as noted already. Annual population growthrate estimates range from 2.4 to 3%, and projections

indicate a population of 23 million by 2030 according
to the 2014 Human Development Report.

Young people show little or no interest in pursuing
employment opportunities in the agriculture sector.
However, digital technologies are rapidly changing the
agriculture employment landscape, creating jobs that
require a new set of skills and that are more profitable
and appealing to the youth.
The agricultural sector is seen as crucial to addressing
the disproportionately high levels of youth
unemployment, underemployment and poverty. Not
only is the sector of vital importance to rural economies
worldwide – and particularly in developing countries – italso possesses significant untapped development andemployment creation potential.

160

64

Mordor Intelligence, 2020. https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/agriculture-in-zimbabwe-industry

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CONCLUSION
The role of agriculture in the continent is closely linked to thesocial, economic, and environmental bottom line of all countries.
The role of youth participation as well as the adoptation of smart,
African centred Agri-Tech are key determinants to supporting the
agriculture sector. The smallholder farmer will continue to play asignificant role in feeding the continent.
The role of Heifer International is to position itself as the bridgeconnecting young people in the space with innovators, governments,
non-profits as well as local institutions, with a common purposeof achieving food security across the continent, building a newgeneration of young tech savvy farmers and other players in thevalue chain.

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65

06
A link to the following documents

APPENDIX

1. Focus group recordings
2. Focus group transcripts
3. Research team
4. Research questions
5. Survey database66

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA’SAGRICULTURE - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY68

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ROLE OF YOUTH AND TECHNOLOGY