ASARECA Vision and Experience on Youth in Agriculture in Central & East Africa. By Adeline Muheebwa ASARECA Gender Expert

ASARECA Vision and Experience on Youth in Agriculture in Central & East Africa. By Adeline Muheebwa ASARECA Gender Expert

Outline 1. About ASARECA 2. ASARECA's Vision for the Youths in Agriculture 4. ASARECA s Youth Models in Agriculture 5. Conclusion 2

About ASARECA ASARECA was established in 1994 and comprises of 11 member countries: Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Madagascar, Sudan and South Sudan. ASARECA region has about 350 million people. Agriculture forms the source of livelihood for the bulk of the population Agriculture accounts for 43% of the subregional GDP. ASARECA works through Partnerships with NARIs, Universities, International Research Institutions, Private sector, Government agents and NGOs

ASARECA s Mission & Purpose ASARECA s mission is : To enhance regional collective action in: Agricultural research for development; Extension and Agricultural training and education To promote: Economic growth, Fight poverty, Eradicate hunger, and Enhance sustainable use of resources in Eastern and Central Africa. ASARECA s Purpose is To enhance food security and income through equitable access and utilization of agricultural innovations in ECA

How does ASARECA achieve its mission and purpose? Through Regional collective action, collaboration and specialization of Research Networking. All these are aimed at:- Improving agriculture s performance by addressing regional challenges and harnessing opportunities. Application of technologies developed in one country shared with other countries of similar agro ecological environments. Promotion of agricultural led growth through sharing of Agricultural research results amongst countries as an opportunity. Leverage on resources where possible through regional interventions and efforts and building capacities amongst each other.

ASARECA's Vision for the Youths in Agriculture Economic Growth Good Public Policies Legal Reforms and Regulatory Framework to provide conducive environment Improve Investment Climate for the Youths Improve the Access to and Control of Productive Resources Improve Access to Services e.g the BDS, Extension and Advisory, etc Equal access to Credit and Financing REDUCED POVERTY IMPROVED WELL BEING INCREASED PROSPERITY Accelerated Investments in Human Development Full Participation in Decision Making Equal Opportunity and ability to pursue and benefit from economic activities SUSTAINED GROWTH 6

7 Who is a youth?

To achieve its vision of the youths in agriculture :- Who are these youths anyway? Do we understand their needs or constraints? Are there any opportunities out there for them? How often do we seek to find out perceptions of the youths on issues that concern them? How do we engage them in the efforts and interventions that are targeting them or that are addressing their needs? 8

To achieve its vision of the youths in agriculture :- GENDER UNIT Provides Coordination & technical support for all youths initiatives Accelerates progress in promoting gender equality in ECA region. Established an institutional framework to support the coordination. GENDER POLICY The goal of the ASARECA Gender Policy is to achieve gender equality in agricultural research and development innovations with strong commitment for equity and increased opportunity. SPECIFIC PROJECTS / EFFORTS ASARECA provides leadership in addressing bottlenecks on youth unemployment and identifying opportunities for attracting the youths to agriculture so that there is direct engagement with the male and female youths 9

In its functions:- ASARECA has broadened its development agenda to inclusively embrace the different gender categories of male and females especially the youths in the development processes. ASARECA has further provided opportunities to the different gender categories to unlock their creative capacities in society. ASARECA has further made efforts to explore the values, beliefs and perceptions of the youth towards agricultural development.

Why Engage with the Youths? ASARECA is aware that engaging and mainstreaming the youth into agriculture is crucial:- in attaining the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program (CAADP), agenda and the different commitments SDGs, etc Improving adoptions and scaling up of technologies / innovations; sustainability of the interventions and transformed livelihoods among the beneficiaries. The Future of agriculture lies in the hands of the youths especially with the current ageing farmer crisis. 11

ON FARM YOUTH MODEL 1: QUALITY FRUIT TREES TECHNOLOGIES AND INNOVATIONS Nursery seedling maintenances Rootstock seeds collection and planting Grafting & budding of improved varieties when ready Growers Distributions of improved fruit varieties Grafted seedling care and hardening 12

QUALITY FRUIT TREES TECHNOLOGIES AND INNOVATIONS PROJECT Advantages 1. Required limited land size 2. By the road sides with easy marketing 3. Quick market short term duration 4. Fruit trees have high demand 5. Continuous all year round 13

Achievements of the project Project had increased participation of the rural youths from Ethiopia and Uganda. The project offered many business opportunities in fruit tree nursery management. There were incentives for attracting and retaining the youth in agribusiness. 14

OFF FARM MODEL : Universities, Businesses and Research in Agricultural Innovation (UniBRAIN) universities Businesses Research A continental initiative implemented in collaboration with the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and other partners. The project is coordinating efforts to put the youth at the centre of agribusiness 15

List of prioritized TIMPs under UniBRAIN Coffee value chain Banana value chain Sorghum value chain Tissue Culture coffee Tissue Culture bananas Sorghum varieties for food, feed, fiber and bio fuels Natural sweetener Fresh Vacuum Sealed Matooke (FREVASEMA) Farmers model ownership Banana Juice, syrup and wines Sorghum technology processing Organizational innovation in sorghum production and marketing (contract farming) Geographical indications Banana Briquettes

The story of proprietor Mr. Sam Turyatunga of Omega Juicers Omega Juicers is an enterprise started in 2013 supported by the incubators ABP start-up. Sam is a graduate of Bachelor of Food Science Technology student of Kyambogo University, who was trained in Banana Juice making. He started producing the banana juice in the university laboratory with so much success that his juice became a staple at the campus. Sam is in fully-fledged production line of Banana juice. He has attended trainings in Nairobi Kenya, Entebbe Uganda and Gujarat India. He is a perfect example of the UniBRAIN model. 17

The story of proprietor Mr. Sam Turyatunga of Omega Juicers Employment opportunities Job creation along VC Markets for the smallholder farmers 18

Made from the Banana stem fibres previous thrown away as waste 19

The story of Talanta Designers specialists in the production of floor rags lamp shades and costars - Mr. Isaac Nkonge Mr. Nkonge Isaac is the brain behind Talanta designers. He got inspired to be one of members of Afri banana product limited after knowing the kind of support it gives to agri business enterprises at their innovative early stage. He joined ABP and posted for incubation at banana textiles/crafts unit in February 2012. This unit concentrates in supporting incubates in the production of different products such as floor rags, lamp shades, Costas, Wall hangings among other. 20

The story of Talanta Designers specialists in the production of floor rags lamp shades and costars - Mr. Isaac Nkonge With the support that ABP offered to the youths including access to equipment, space and technical skills this has boosted their talents as young upcoming product designers. 21

In all these interventions the role of ASARECA has been : Sensitization of National & regional Research systems on efforts such as Fruit Tree crops project, UniBRAIN, CA etc Identification of research areas to be addressed Identification of research products for upscaling Ensuring fair use of research products Working with other partners to ensure smooth implementation Offering specialised trainings for knowledge as well as hands on skills Commissioning studies to generate new information on different youth business models.

For gainful employment in the agriculture sector, youths should be targeted depending on their aspirations and resource accessibility. They should have access to land, and skills and capital to invest in high-valued agricultural enterprises New holdings / opportunities for occupation in localities with vast unoccupied fertile land should be identified. Youth groups/farmer associations for the youth should be promoted to be able to access services. High productivity is associated with improved farmers incomes; key in attracting and maintaining the youth in agriculture. All interventions at various levels should have a strong youth component; and support be provided in form of technical skills and knowledge, new technology and managerial skills. 23 In Conclusion: On farm youths

In Conclusion: Off farm youths Build/support youth entrepreneurs for agribusiness, Input markets (sale of improved seeds, fertilizer and agricultural chemicals), storage and processing, and produce marketing can offer new employment opportunities for the youth who are currently exiting farming. Emphasis should be put into understanding where employment opportunities exist along the different nodes of the agricultural value chain. Specific targeted short and long term training opportunities are critical so as to equip the youth with requisite skills and overall sensitization on agricultural technologies. 24

ASARECA projects receive technical and financial support from European Union Our collaborating partners SCOMESA SFARA S CIMMYT SCORAF SCARDESSA

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