HLPE e-consultation on the scope of the Report

“Promoting youth engagement and

employment in agriculture and food
systems”

From 9 December 2019 to 19 January 2020

Extended until 26 January 2020

www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/discussions/youth_engagement_employment

− Collection of contributions received −

Table of contents
Topic...............................................................................................................5
Contributions received..........................................................................................8
1. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India...........................8
2. Olabisi Omodara, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Nigeria.....................................8
3. Ariel Ornello Djomakon, Finagric, Gletafa, Benin..................................................8
4. Sidney Flament Ortun, Neo-Agri, Spain.............................................................10
5. Sidney Flament Ortun, Neo-Agri, Spain.............................................................10
6. Sidney Flament Ortun, Neo-Agri, Spain.............................................................10
7. Sidney Flament Ortun, Neo-Agri, Spain.............................................................10
8. Atugonza Bilaro, Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), United Republic of
Tanzania.......................................................................................................11
9. Lydia Wairegi, Kenya..................................................................................12
10. Mahesh Chander, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India........................12
11. Divine Buo, Africert, Côte d'Ivoire................................................................13
12. Richard Tinsley, Colorado State University, USA...............................................13
13. John Ede, Ohaha Family Foundation, Nigeria..................................................14
14. Peter John Opio, Uganda...........................................................................14
15. Peter John Opio, Uganda...........................................................................14
16. Chinasa Ikelu, Institute de Mathematique et de Sciences Physiques, Benin..............15
17. FAO Publications.....................................................................................15
18. Philip Ifejika, National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, Nigeria.............16
19. Saud Al Farsi, Oman.................................................................................16
20. Stephen Kimani, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya......19
21. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India.......................19
22. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India.......................19
23. Olanike Deji, Obafemi Awolowo University, University.......................................20
24. Olanike Deji, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria..........................................20
25. Scott Justice, Myanmar.............................................................................20
26. EVS Prakasa Rao, Independent Researcher, India..............................................21
27. Joel Samson Ruvugo, People’s Open Access Education Initiative, United Republic of
Tanzania.......................................................................................................21
28. Rabiu Auwalu Yakasai, Food and Nutrition Vocational Center, Nigeria....................22
29. Tapera Chivhaka, UNISA, South Africa...........................................................23
30. Karol Kissane, Ireland...............................................................................23
31. Virenda Kamalvanshi, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, India
24
32. Kim Conely, Nutritional Diversity, Panama.....................................................24
33. Vide Adedayo, University of Lagos, Nigeria.....................................................25
34. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India.......................25
35. Arthur Kuhn, Young Leaders Committee of the Brazilian Rural Society, Brazil...........26
36. Brian Baldwin, IAFN, Italy..........................................................................26
37. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India.......................29
38. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India.......................29
39. Erand Llanaj, Public Health Research Institute, University of Debrecen, Hungary......29
40. Kenneth Senkosi, Kampala Capital City Authority, Uganda..................................31
41. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India.......................32
42. Florence Egal, Italy.................................................................................32
43. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India.......................33
44. Amanda Namayi, Kenya............................................................................34
45. Mary Mwema, Kenya................................................................................34
46. Gabriel Kilama, SKILAGRO CO. LTD (National Youth Champion in Agriculture), Uganda 35
47. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India.......................35
48. Segun Ogunwale, The OpenFarm Network (Kominity Digital), Nigeria.....................36
49. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India.......................38
50. Kim Conely, Nutritional Diversity, Panama.....................................................38
51. Walter Alberto Pengue, Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento, Argentina........39
52. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India.......................39
53. Elena Sturchio, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), Department of
Technological Innovation, Italy............................................................................41
54. Emadeldin Mahgoub, Agricultural Research Corporation, Sudan............................41
55. André Luzzi, Brazil..................................................................................42
56. Ileana Grandelis, FAO, Italy.......................................................................42
57. Amadou Tall, TA PESCAO/ECOWAS, Nigeria....................................................45
58. Olga Pashkevich, Insitute of System Researches in Agro-Industrial Complex of the
National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Belarus.....................................................45
59. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India.......................47
60. Rodrigo Mota, World Food Programme - WFP Youth Network, WFP........................48
61. Sine Gyrup, ECLT Foundation, Switzerland.....................................................49
62. Policarpo Tamele, Entrepreneurship Development Agency, Mozambique.................49
63. Dramane Tounkara, Réseau Mondial des Jeunes Innovateurs, Mali.........................49
64. Parasuraman Nagappan, M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, India.................50
65. Rosemary Olive Mbone Enie, Sustainable Village Resources (SVR) Kenya, Kenya........50
66. Hamish Rennie, Lincoln University, New Zealand..............................................50
67. Olusola Ekundayo, Cameroon.....................................................................52
68. Francis Obonyo Alphonse, Uganda................................................................53
69. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India.......................53
70. Etenesh Asfaw, Westminster International University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan..........54
71. Elena Carrano, Italy.................................................................................54
72. Mary Michelle Arsenault, Non-governmental organization, Uganda........................59
73. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India.......................62
74. Roxana Salazar, Fundacion Ambio, Costa Rica.................................................62
75. James Breen, retired, Ireland.....................................................................63
76. Camille Rameau, FAO, Cambodia.................................................................64
77. Mamy Lalaina Razafindrakoto, FAO, Italy.......................................................66
78. Ariane Genthon, FAO, Italy........................................................................67
79. Iean Russell, FAO, Cambodia......................................................................69
80. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India.......................70
81. Norbert F. Tchouaffe Tchiadje, University of Dschang, Cameroon.........................72
82. Solomon Oyeniran, OSOA FOODS, Nigeria.......................................................72
83. Manuel Moya, University Miguel Hernández, Spain............................................73
84. Henry Garay Sarasty, Colombia...................................................................73
85. Norbert F. Tchouaffe Tchiadje, University of Dschang, Cameroon.........................74
86. Norbert F. Tchouaffe Tchiadje, University of Dschang, Cameroon.........................74
87. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India.......................75
88. Koba Philippe Akpaki, DEDRAS, Benin...........................................................75
89. Maria Giulia de Castro, World Farmers’ Organisation, Italy..................................80
90. Anisah Madden, Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance, Australia...........................81
91. Arun Baral, HarvestPlus, United States of America............................................82
92. Teresa Maisano, CSM Youth Working Group.....................................................83
93. Dyana Sari, University of Tribhuwana Tunggadewi, Indonesia.............................104
94. Mahesh Chander, ICAR Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India.......................105
95. Lal Manavado, Norway............................................................................106
96. KBN Rayana, Jaipur National University, India................................................113
97. Astrid Jakobs de Padua, World Bank Group, United States of America...................114
98. FAO Publications...................................................................................121
99. Apollo Segawa, Curad, Uganda..................................................................124
 Topic

During its 46th Plenary Session (14 – 18 October 2019), the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS)
requested its High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) to produce a report
entitled “Promoting youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food systems”, to be presented
in 2021 (the request is provided below) 1.

The report, which will provide recommendations to the CFS workstream “Promoting youth engagement
and employment in agriculture and food systems”, will:
 Review the opportunities for, and constraining factors to youth engagement and employment in
agriculture and food systems, including youth access to:

1. Knowledge, information and education;

2. Productive land, natural resources and inputs;
3. Productive tools, extension, advisory and financial services;
4. Training, education and mentorship programmes;
5. Innovation and new technologies;
6. Markets;
7. Policy-making processes.
 Examine aspects related to employment, salaries, and working conditions;
 Review rules, regulations and policy approaches, including territorial approaches, aimed at
addressing the complexity of structural economic, cultural, social and spatial transformations
currently taking place globally;
 Explore the potential of food systems and enhanced rural-urban linkages to provide more and
better jobs for women and youth.

To implement this CFS request, the HLPE is launching an open e-consultation to seek views and comments
on the following scope and building blocks of the report, outlined below. To participate in the e-
consultation, please visit the dedicated HLPE e-consultation website:
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/discussions/youth_engagement_employment

Proposed draft Scope of the HLPE Report on “Promoting youth engagement and employment in
agriculture and food systems” by the HLPE Steering Committee
Engagement of youth (both women and men) is key in making the transition towards sustainable and
healthy agriculture and food systems. It is estimated that more than 2 billion children will be born
worldwide between 2015 and 2030 (UN, 2015). 2 The majority of these children will be in sub-Saharan
Africa and South Asia, where agriculture and food systems constitute the largest employer, and where the
needs in terms of availability, access and quality of food and nutrition are greatest. There is a large
untapped reservoir of employment opportunities in the agri-food sector which is increasingly pinched by
significant labour constraints in many areas of the world. Yet, due to limited access to land, natural
resources, infrastructure, finance, technology, markets, knowledge, and poor working conditions the sector

1
The request for HLPE Report # 16 is extracted from the CFS 46 document “CFS Multi-year programme of work 2020-2023” (Ref:
CFS 2019/46/7), available at http://www.fao.org/3/na703en/na703en.pdf

https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/trends/Population2030.pdf
cannot be considered attractive and sustainable for youth. There is a high incidence of informality, casual
labour, underemployment, child labour, forced labour, working poverty, and among the lowest rates of
access to social protection and unionisation in the agricultural sector. Young women, once married, are
mostly engaged in farming, often for subsistence, while young men exit the sector in search of other
income opportunities and greater autonomy. Discriminatory traditional and cultural norms leave women
disadvantaged as regards access to productive resources, limiting their ability to innovate on their farms. It
is then important to better understand aspirations of the youth, differentiated by gender, class, ethnicity
and other forms of difference, to enable sustainable food systems.

As the global average age of farmers approaches 60 years, it is essential to develop systems, policies, and
programmes that encourage the engagement of youth in agriculture and food systems and related
professions, including research and innovation. These should provide spaces and mechanisms for
participation, and opportunities for innovation. Traditional subsistence agriculture is not attractive to the
youth and it is essential to transform agriculture and food systems in a way that is intellectually challenging
and economically rewarding. Retaining youth in agriculture also requires improving living standards and
quality of services in rural areas and mid-sized towns.

Engagement and leadership of young women and men in agriculture and food systems is essential as youth
need to be recognized as agents of change and not (only) as receivers of assistance and support. Youth
participation in decision making related to agriculture and food systems requires changes to the enabling
environment, through the institution of specific mechanisms to allow the voices of youth to be heard; and
recognition of the social, economic, cultural and political status of youth, to allow them to fully participate.
The legislative and institutional environment influences the respect of young people’s rights, working
conditions, job creation and youth engagement. Coherence between sectoral and employment policies and
legislation needs to be promoted to ensure that there are no conflicting objectives in different policies, and
that policies reinforce one another.

The objectives of this report are to better understand the gender differentiated reasons for the limited
engagement of youth in agriculture and food systems, to identify new opportunities for youth to improve
their efficiency and sustainability, and to provide recommendations to facilitate their active engagement
and employment. These recommendations will be in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
and in particular with SDG2, SDG1, SDG8, SDG5, SDG9, and SDG10, and with other global and regional level
agreements.

During this e-consultation, the HLPE Steering Committee welcomes your feedback. In particular, you are
invited to:
 Share your comments on the objectives and content of this report as outlined above;
 Share good practices and successful experiences to improve youth engagement in the governance
of agriculture and food systems; to address obstacles hindering youth ability to engage as
entrepreneurs, and to generate decent work opportunities for youth in agriculture and food
systems, at different scales (from local to global) and by different stakeholders (public, private or
civil society), including with respect to legislation and the enabling environment;
 Share the most recent references that should be considered in this report;
 Provide feedback on the following questions, identifying any gender issues, to guide the
development of the report:
1. Why is there is a need to promote youth engagement and employment in agriculture and
food systems? What are the key issues and opportunities?
2. How do the evolution and transitions of agriculture, food systems and nutrition affect
youth engagement and employment? How can employment in agriculture and food
systems become more attractive for youth, especially considering the rural-urban
continuum? What would be needed to improve standards of living and services in rural
areas and mid-sized towns, to retain youth and young families?
3. What governance transformations are necessary to enable and encourage youth
participation in agriculture and food systems, and what actions are required to equip
youth with the necessary skills and confidence in fully engaging in these decision-making
processes?
4. What are the most promising pathways to transform current agriculture and food systems
in developing countries to make them more attractive to the youth?
5. What are the best strategies for fully engaging youth, in particular young women, in
opportunities to acquire adequate skills and learning opportunities to further develop their
knowledge and enable them to be leaders in innovative agriculture and the transformation
of food systems?
6. What are the most appropriate policies to remove obstacles to empower youth to initiate
and/or upscale activities in agriculture and related services, in the food supply chain, in
agroecology, and in the food environment, as well as in nutrition and innovation, in
accordance to their skills, aspirations, assets and contexts?
7. What are the most appropriate policies and initiatives to facilitate the education-to-labour
market transition and youth recruitment and retention in agriculture and food systems’
related activities? What nodes and activities in supply chains have the highest potential for
generating decent jobs for youth? What new types of training are needed to foster more
agroecological approaches to farming?
8. What is the extent of wage discrepancies against youth, particularly young women, in
agriculture and food systems, and what are some successful experiences in removing such
wage differentials?
9. What data is necessary to support policy development to enhance youth engagement and
employment, and to create awareness of the specific needs, vulnerabilities and
opportunities of disadvantaged youth?
 Contributions received

1. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India

This consultation is need driven and timely. The creativity and energy of youth need to be tapped for
improving agriculture scenario especailly in developingg countries, youth being future farmers. The
Extension and Advisory Services (EAS) around the world should consider youth in their policies and
programmes as their potential target. Often the head of households are contacted by the EAS for seeking
opinion or implementing agricultural development programmes, ignoring youth in the rural households.
This need to change, if we want to attract and retain youth in agriculture. The older generations often see
agriculture as a way of life and continue to look for information on productivity enhancement, while youth
are intersted in entreprenurship, value chains, marketing, profitability. They would not be interested in
mere more production but would focus on profits, so would be extra vigilant on new information that help
them run agriculture as business. This will be a challange for EAS to meet the fresh demands from new
generation farmers who are looking at agriculture as profit making business venture. The EAS has to
reorient, re-equip by improving their capacities to meet the new challanges in agriculture sector in such a
way that the youth find agriculture attractive.
Happy to share some of my blogs on youth and Agricultural extension
https://www.aesanetwork.org/youth-potential-target-for-agricultural-extension/
https://blog.gfar.net/2016/05/03/agripreneurs-the-emerging-role-models/
https://ypard.net/2017-09-11/make-agriculture-%E2%80%98cool%E2%80%99-youth-8th-gfras-annual-
meeting
https://ypard.net/testimonials/mentoring-rural-youth-make-agriculture-attractive
https://ypard.net/2018-07-31/youth-and-social-media-leverage-agripreneurship
http://www.fao.org/cfs/home/blog/blog-articles/article/en/c/1042775/
https://ypard.net/2017-july-14/world-youth-skills-day-time-collective-actions
https://ypard.net/news/day-out-nikki%E2%80%99s-farm%E2%80%94-youth-agripreneur-action
Looking forward for more on youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food systems!
Mahesh Chander
Joint Director (Extension Education)
ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243122 (UP) India

2. Olabisi Omodara, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Nigeria

I am very excited to be a part of this landmark event.

3. Ariel Ornello Djomakon, Finagric, Gletafa, Benin

Commentaires sur le rapport 
L'avant projet met bien évidence l'importance  de mieux comprendre les aspirations des jeunes,
différenciées selon le sexe, la classe sociale, l’appartenance ethnique et autres formes de différence, afin de
permettre la mise en place de systèmes alimentaires durables. C'est pertinent parce que dans toutes les
initiatives visant à promouvoir la participation et l'engagement des jeunes dans les systèmes agro-
alimentaires, leurs aspirations à eux-mêmes ne sont presque jamais considérées.
Références les plus récentes à prendre en compte
Mabiso, A., and Benfica, R. (2019) The narrative on rural youth and economic opportunities in Africa: Facts,
myths and gaps. IFAD, Rural Development Report, Background Papers 21.
Informations en retour
1. Il est nécessaire de promouvoir la participation et l'emploi des jeunes dans l'agriculture et les systèmes
alimentaires car l'agriculture est avant tout le secteur qui fournit les matières premières à l'alimentation
des peuples, et face à une population mondiale vieillissante, il y a un besoin impératif pour tous les pays de
renouveller la classe des acteurs agricoles. En Afrique où le secteur emploie 65% de la population, c'est
d'autant plus important de revisiter le travail des jeunes dans le secteur face aux taux de sous-emploi
visible et invisible très élevés. Les principaux problèmes qui amenuisent les efforts de participation des
jeunes dans le secteur sont le manque d'appui technique continu, les efforts limités de profilage, et le
financement. Plusieurs opportunités existent et dans tous les secteurs de la société pour intéresser les
jeunes à l'agriculture : les arts et loisirs relatifs à l'agro-tourisme ; l'agro-entrepreneuriat, la finance
agricole, les technologies et services agricoles et agroalimentaires ; les foires culturelles et agricoles ; les
médias axés sur l'agriculture ; l'éducation, la formation et la recherche en agriculture ; l'alimentation, la
santé et la nutrition des famille ; et les politiques agricoles, législations foncières, et l'administration en
général.
2. En réalité de nombreux jeunes s'engagent déjà dans l'agriculture et les systèmes alimentaires, soit parce
qu'ils sont intéressés par le secteur, soit parce qu'ils n'ont pas d'autre alternative. Cependant, nous faisons
face au défi du maintien des jeunes dans le secteur parce que dans de nombreuses régions du monde, le
secteur a bénéficié de plusieurs décennies de sous-investissement qui en ont fait un secteur fournissant
l'alimentation de la population mondiale mais créant plusieurs pauvres et travailleurs avec des revenus
non décents. Il serait compliqué d'encourager un jeune à se créer un avenir dans un secteur où il voit peu
d'avenir pour lui et sa famille ou trop de difficultés pour se faire une place.
4. Les voies les plus prometteuses pour rendre les systèmes agricoles et alimentaires plus attrayants pour
les jeunes sont dans les services (fourniture diverses, médias), la production, l'agroalimentaire, les
technologies, la finance, l'éducation et formation, et l'élaboration de politiques.
5. Il faut des stratégies axées sur un meilleur profilage des jeunes afin d'identifier les impératifs de
capacités par profil de jeune dans les systèmes agricoles et alimentaires. Un rapport récent ACED-Bénin
(2017). Analyse des profils des jeunes dans le secteur agricole au Bénin : les impératifs de capacités  illustre
bien le besoin de ce type de stratégies primordiales à toute initiative visant à engager pleinement et de
manière durable les jeunes dans les systèmes agro-alimentaires.
6. Parallèlement, et notamment dans les pays africains, nous avons un réel besoin de revoir les
programmes et curricula d'éducation et de formation en agriculture et y intégrer des outils prouvés
d'évaluation professionnelle et d'orientation de carrière afin de mieux accompagner les jeunes formés
dans les centres d'entrepreneuriat agricole, ainsi que les jeunes sortis des universités, dans leur projet
professionnel et plan de carrière. Par exemple, encourager les jeunes à se positionner dans la seule sphère
de l’agro-business est un premier pas et peut faire d’eux les champions économiques de demain s’ils se
positionnent sur différents maillons avec des moyens mis à leur disposition. Mais en plus, il faut en
orienter et en équiper d’autres pour façonner des politiques agricoles plus inclusives, améliorer
l’environnement des activités et affaires agricoles, produire des données agricoles, repenser la nutrition et
la santé des familles, valoriser l’agriculture et l’alimentation par les médias, financer les acteurs du secteur
agricole, etc. Et les jeunes ne peuvent pas se positionner s'ils ne connaissent pas mieux leurs compétences
actuelles et ce qui les intéresse dans les système agricole et alimentaire.
Ariel Djomakon, Spécialiste en finance agricole et en développement rural
 4. Sidney Flament Ortun, Neo-Agri, Spain
In the eyes of many, farming is not considered a desirable career. However, a growing number of urban
youth see things differently. After a ‘first life’ outside agriculture, and often with a university degree, they
have decided to become farmers. We call them new peasants. And many of these young people choose
agroecology as an alternative way to enter the food system, promoting both social and environmental
sustainability.
See:
https://www.ileia.org/2015/06/09/youth-agriculture-new-peasants-moving-back-rural-areas/
Sidney Flament-Ortun
Neo-Agri Association President
France and Spain
www.neo-agri.org

5. Sidney Flament Ortun, Neo-Agri, Spain

La investigación cuantitativa y cualitativa “Incorporación de jóvenes al campo, relevo generacional y
nuevos perfiles de los jóvenes agricultores desde una perspectiva de género”, nace de la necesidad de
tener datos actualizados sobre la situación de las personas jóvenes que se incorporan al sector agrario, así
como de los retos y oportunidades que el marco socioeconómico actual les ofrece.
El informe se puede consultar aqui o ver adjunto.
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/INCORPORACION
%20DE%20JOVENES%20AL%20CAMPO.pdf
Sidney Flament-Ortun
Presidenta de Neo-Agri
www.neo-agri.org

6. Sidney Flament Ortun, Neo-Agri, Spain

Es clave tener en cuenta para este informe a los nuevos perfiles de jovenes que se incorporan a la
agricultura, ver:
Nuevos perfiles en la incorporación de personas jóvenes al campo: tendencias emergentes desde una
perspectiva de soberanía alimentaria
http://www.iss.nl/sites/corporate/files/18_-_Flament-Ortun_et_al..pdf

7. Sidney Flament Ortun, Neo-Agri, Spain

Aujourd'hui pour promouvoir la participation des jeunes au secteur agricole il est indispensable de
revaloriser l'image du métier et de leur permettre de connaître sa réalité et son importance capitale.
Il est donc nécessaire de réfléchir à une nouvelle agriculture agroécologique demandant plus de savoir-
faire, mélangeant modernité, méthodes traditionnelles, respect de l’environnement et haute performance.
En parallèle le chômage en milieu rural augmente. Les ruraux finissent par vivre dans les bidonvilles des
périphéries des grandes villes. Simultanément, le chômage urbain augmente. Beaucoup d’agriculteurs
partent à la retraite ; il y a un problème de renouvellement des générations d’agriculteurs.
Le problème de la transition des terres agricoles est multi-générationnel. Le développement de solutions
doit inclure et prendre en compte à la fois les besoins des jeunes et moins jeunes paysan.nes, de ceux qui
veulent s’installer et de ceux qui partent à la retraite. Cela va de pair avec la nécessité de mesures
gouvernementales pour assurer la transition environnementale et la revitalisation des zones rurales.
Les néo-paysans
Aujourd’hui, être paysan.ne n’est pas considéré comme une carrière honorable. Le succès est lié au salaire.
Cependant, quelques courageux remettent en question cette logique et reviennent à la terre. Après une
première vie professionnelle en dehors du monde agricole ils changent de voie pour devenir paysan.nes.
Dans ce contexte de crise environnementale, de perte de sens, de chômage chronique, certains ont fait le
choix de changer de vie pour se consacrer à une agriculture agroécologique (agriculture biologique, de
conservation, biodynamisme, en accord avec les principes de la permaculture, etc…). Nous les appelons
les « néo-paysan.nes ». Ils choisissent l’agroécologie comme une route alternative pour rentrer dans le
circuit de l’alimentation et promouvoir aussi bien la durabilité sociale qu’environnementale.
Ils sont issus de milieu urbain ou rural, de tout milieu social et catégorie socio-professionnelle et installent
leur exploitation aussi bien à la campagne qu’en périphérie des villes ou bien en ville. Etant rarement
formatés ou freinés par leur entourage (soumis à une pression familiale en ce qui concerne les pratiques
agricoles à appliquer), ou une formation agricole conventionnelle, ils se révèlent souvent très innovants et
libres d'appliquer leur idées. En effet, ils innovent sur plusieurs aspects tel que la pratique d’une
pluriactivité (agricole, gîte, accueil, centre de formation, espace de coworking…), un autre type de
distribution (vente en circuit court, à la ferme, transformation à la ferme,…) et des pratiques
agroécologiques (association de cultures, non travail du sol,…).
Dans ces temps changeants, nous pensons que ces néo-paysan.nes représentent une opportunité pour
apporter une nouvelle énergie, des idées fraîches et un nouveau talent au secteur agricole et alimentaire.
Ils peuvent travailler aux côtés des agriculteurs déjà en place (néo-paysan.nes ou non, issus du
renouvellement générationnel dominant par succession familiale ou non), qui sont un moteur clé
d’innovation, pour remettre en question le système agricole et apporter de nouvelles propositions.
Les néo-paysan.nes sont une réponse essentielle au problème de la succession en agriculture. De
nombreux agriculteurs à la retraite n'ont pas de fils ou de fille prêts à prendre la relève. Dans le même
temps, beaucoup de personnes sont à la recherche d'une terre pour commencer une activité agricole.
Davantage de soutien est nécessaire pour les mettre en contact.
Contribuer à pallier le problème du renouvellement générationnel en agriculture est l'une des principales
missions de l'association Neo-Agri qui travaille en France et en Espagne. Nous serions ravis de partager
avec vous nos projets à toute fin utile.
Sidney Flament-Ortun
Présidente de Neo-Agri
www.neo-agri.org

8. Atugonza Bilaro, Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), United Republic of

Tanzania
The youth are more likely to embrace new technological advancement in agriculture (digital farming,
digital marketing etc,) but they have one disadvantage, that is lack of space and captail to make real
investments. this forum has the opptunity to adress policy issues and social economic barriers that hinder
youth engagement in agriculture. To me this is the opportunity to understand the youth dynamics and
challenges and how they are approaching these obstacles

9. Lydia Wairegi, Kenya

The average age of farmers in sub Saharan Africa has been increasing. At the same time, older farmers are
not so willing to give land to young farmers. The issue is further componded by land fragmentation- hence
younger farmers tend to own smaller areas of land than older farmers.
Young farmers are interested in enterprises and activities that bring in more cash, and are more willing to
invest in agriculture so long as it is profitable. The go for intensive cropping systems like vegetable
production. older farmers are less likely to take such risks. The young are less likely to get credit - and
many lack collateral. However, the young farmers are better educated and are better at making decisions
especially those that affect household incomes.
To encourage the youth to shift back to agriculture, first, farming has to be profitable, and the value chain
transparent. Older farmers sometimes farm even when they know they are making losses. In addition,
farming needs shift from use of traditional and old practices to modern practices. Use of ICT is a must e.g.
in relation to input/output market, acquisition of weather data. In addition, there needs to be a shift from
manual labour to mechanisation or use of technologies/technics that reduce the need for manual labour
e.g. herbicides to control weeds.
Agricultural policies that encourage profitability, modernising agriculture to reduce the drudgery,
encouraging of renting of land by younger farmers from older farmers while at the same time ensuring
food and livelihood security for older farmers, provision of cheap loans for farmers.
To reduce the movement of youth from agricultural areas to urban settings, areas that need to be
improved are communication (e.g. internet connectivity), transport/roads, shopping areas, schools for
young children, entertainement and leisure spots, and generally increasing the pace of life.
See our publication attached: Wairegi et al., 2018. Sustainably improving Kenya's coffee production needs
more participation of younger farmers with diversified income. Journal of rural Studies 63: 190-199
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/wairegi%20et%20al
%202018.pdf

10. Mahesh Chander, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India

I supervised two PhD dissertations: 1. Determinants of rural youth participation in farming (2014), 2.
Participation of young women in agriculture: an analytical study of their involvement, attitude and
aspirations (2018). Also, I conducted a Rural Youth Mentoring programme in 2017, wherein, 105 youths
were mentored to attract them to take up agriculture. We found that youths perceive agriculture as one of
the most unattractive profession to pursue. They feel so mainly due to hardships their parents suffer in
agriculture, due to risks and uncertainties involved, slow rate of returns and pace of life. With growing
influence of media especially the Social Media channels, youth aspirations have gone further up, they
increasingly find agriculture lacking in glamour. At the same time a new class of farmers is emerging, that is
highly educated, having experienced high profile jobs, mostly without previous experience of farming. Such
new generation farmers could be the role models of rural youths, because they are bringing in some
glamour in the farming by engaging in modern practices, value addition and innovative marketing of farm
products. In our mentoring programme, we invited innovative farmers for delivering lectures and also
organized the visits of youth to their farming ventures. Such mentoring activities may help in changing the
attitudes of youth towards agriculture. We need young and innovative farmers engaged in farming, doing it
a bit differently and earning more profits than merely focusing on more production which the conventional
old generation farmers usually do. We would be able to attract farmers, if we could promote, market
driven agriculture from production driven farming as more production often doesn’t ensure profits. Youth
need various kinds of support viz technical, financial including handholding, which quite often is not
available to them.

Mentoring youth is the key:

https://ypard.net/testimonials/mentoring-rural-youth-make-agriculture-attractive
https://ypard.net/testimonials/extension-and-advisory-services-eas-shouldn%E2%80%99t-ignore-youth-
anymore
https://ypard.net/news/mentoring-changes-lives
https://ypard.net/mentoring

11. Divine Buo, Africert, Côte d'Ivoire

Please find in the link below a post I made on linkedin a few days ago during the yearly farmers day
celebration in Ghana. I uploaded it here because I believe it is relevant to the topic at hand.
I argue that Governments and development partners should establish green belts spread throughout the
country according to the competitive advantage of each region and have installed on these facilities an
information and service center, irrigation facility with large land banks for production purposes, a financial
intermediary, an offtaker or market facilitation agency etc all under one roof, That is a one-stop shop (OSS)
facility. These facilities can then be rented to young enterpreneurs and individuals seeking to produce with
a flexible and affordable payment terms.
Just ten (10) of these facilities will have significant impact on job creation. Similar facility could be
established for the Aqua-culture sector as well as the livestock sector.
I also advocate for less budgetary allocation by development partners and governmental agencies on the
talk shops, workshops and numerous capacity building/training at the expense of real transforming
investments that could impact lives.
Thanks
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/My%20take%20as
%20we%20once%20more%20celebrate%20our%20gallant%20farmers%20in%20Ghana.docx

12. Richard Tinsley, Colorado State University, USA

This looks like a continuation of a recent Eval Forward discussion that i think also came out of FAO. In that
case my contribution to that discussion will apply here.
The biggest concern in getting youth more involved in agriculture production is that the farming system
has to be economically viable. Unfortunately, when relying on manual labor I seriously doubt if farming is
economically viable or sustainable. It just takes too long for basic crop production often 8 weeks or more
with declining yield potential so in the end it is almost impossible to meet domestic food security needs.
This is compounded by the expectation for farmers to exert up to 4000 kcal/day when they might be lucky
to have access to 2500 kcal.
Thus the best way to encourage youth to remain involved in farming is to reduce the basic drudgery in
manual farming. This would quickly imply facilitating access to basic mechanization at least for land
preparation and crop establishment. This would than result in expedited crop establishment, increase the
potential yield leading to improved food security, more crop diversification and improved overall nutrition.
It might be a good idea to compared manual farming systems of Africa with Paddy production areas in Asia
such as Thailand, Laos, Viet Nam, Malaysia, etc. Here some 40 years ago there was a major shift from
water buffalo to power tillers. This more than halved the crop establishment time, allowed for expanded
area managed, as well as allow for spontanous diversification into such things as aquaculture or contract
vegetable production. The question is, are the youth in paddy mechanized areas of Asia more interested in
farming than those in manually farmed Africa. I would expect this to be the case. If so the critical need for
Africa would be encouraging custom mechanization relying exclusively on individual owner/operators of
equipment and establishing policy and credit that would encourage people to gradually move out of full
time farming to become contract service providers. I don't see any alternative to this.

13. John Ede, Ohaha Family Foundation, Nigeria

First of all, I would recommend that youths are engaged in policly formulation. and in program design to
develop the content and make young people own the process by engaging them in the consultation and
dialogue process.
There is a rising young population, and it is a valuabel wealth of resources in skills, strenght, and ability to
help in Agricultural production. Young people are still tender and can be shaped into what is required
especially with great interest. Interest can be generated once farming is made more inviting and more
engaging for the youths.
Growing up, my parents made farming so interesting and enjoyable, that we were looking forward to going
to the farm, despite the peasant nature of production. Farming for us was a learning process and a way of
life. You enjoy the fruits of your labour. We produced from backyard garderns for vegetables, to major
crops in the farms, there is this excitment when its harvest season as we bring home the food crops, or
have meats from the animals we keep.
Engaging the youth in the Agricultural value chain has the potential to increase the qunatity and quality of
Agricultral produce. Young people have the strenght to manage food processing until it reaches the final
consumers. They are often neglected and used for political reasons or to push the agendas of local
politicians, by uing youths for political assignments. But when it comes to farming, fewer youths are
engaged because also, they seem to enjoy the luxury of local politics.
People in rural communities should be provided basic social services that people in urban areas have, and
going to urban cities would be less inviting for young people. The challenge with engaging youths in
Agricultural production in rural places is the lack of skills to convert local production to wealth, and also
the lack of market to make good returns from their produce. I would strongly recommend capacity
building initiatives that is designed specifically for youths in rural places, and empower youths with tools
and resources needed to improve production, which has the great potential to increase production, put
more money in their pockects and make them more employable.

14. Peter John Opio, Uganda

The topic of discussion is a "Hot cake" as it attempts to reduce pressure on governments in Sub saharan
Africa to reduce unemployment and associated ills the youth are trapped and yet to be trapped from
indulging in drugs, prostitution, petty and serious crimes to name the least. Before making further
comments, I need to review literature in East Africa before sharing my personal experience having
engaged in rural agricultural advisory services for the last 25 years. Welcome all.
 15. Peter John Opio, Uganda
How Can Uganda Keep Its Youths In The Farms?
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/AA10-How%20can
%20Uganda%20Keep%20its%20youth%20in%20the%20farms.pdf

16. Chinasa Ikelu, Institute de Mathematique et de Sciences Physiques, Benin

One of the ways to facilitate active engagement of the youth in agriculture will be to review and improve
the value chain processes. In our finalized but yet to be published paper on Growth and Poverty Dynamics
in Nigeria, my co-author and I discovered that growth was constrained by the presence of chronic poverty
through non-farm employment. The policy then will be to improve activities that do not constitute primary
agricultural production. These activities are value chain activities which includes but not limited to agro-
processing, transport, distribution and marketing.

17. FAO Publications

Empowering young agri-entrepreneurs
Youth are the future of food security. With an agricultural sector characterized by an ageing labour force,
involving youth in agriculture is a pressing challenge. Yet, few young people see a place for themselves in
agriculture due to challenges such as inadequate access to land, credit and markets. In addition, they are
affected by high unemployment rates and often migrate from rural areas looking for better opportunities.
FAO works with different stakeholders to empower youth to engage in responsible investment in
agriculture, following the CFS Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems. This
is done by creating institutional, policy and incentive frameworks that account for the needs of youth, as
well as equipping young agri-entrepreneurs with the skills they need to make their businesses thrive.
The following publications have been designed to facilitate this process.
Empowering youth to engage in responsible investment in agriculture and food systems: Rapid capacity
assessment tool
This tool helps practitioners, such as government agencies, youth organizations, or development partners,
to carry out multi-stakeholder assessments of existing and needed capacities to engage and empower
youth to engage in responsible investment in agriculture and food systems.
Empowering youth to engage in responsible investment in agriculture and food systems: Guidance for
organizers and facilitators of the rapid capacity assessment tool
This document provides guidance to support the utilization of the Rapid Capacity Assessment Tool. It
includes relevant information on how to plan, design and conduct the capacity assessment, and
suggestions on how to prepare and facilitate multi-stakeholder discussions
Empowering youth to engage in responsible investment in agriculture and food systems: Challenges,
opportunities and lessons learned from six African countries (Côte d’Ivoire, Malawi, Mozambique,
Namibia, South Africa and Uganda)
This report aims to enhance understanding on the main challenges and opportunities to engage youth in
responsible agricultural investment by giving voice to those most concerned. It summarizes key findings
from a series of multi-stakeholder capacity assessment workshops with participants from six African
countries.
Empowering Youth to Engage in Responsible Investments in Agriculture and Food Systems
The capacity assessment tool explained in a nutshell.
Further reading
Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems: Why it matters
The FAO Umbrella Programme “Supporting Responsible Investments in Agriculture and Food Systems”
The CFS principles for responsible investment in agriculture and food systems fact sheet

18. Philip Ifejika, National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, Nigeria
I think that one area of importance in the proposed youth engagement project in agriculture is on how to
distinguish "actual youths with genuine interest in agriculture engagement and politically motivated and
media youth farmers as well as criteria to determine youth selection for participation in youth
training/incubation programmes. Also, there is need to look at factors that contributed to successful youth
urban and rural agrepreneurs as lesson and guide.

19. Saud Al Farsi, Oman

 Share your comments on the objectives and content of this report as outlined above;
These objectives are very broad and not specified for a different level (local, regional, or international)
These objectives should include enhancement and attraction for working in agriculture and food system.
These objectives should include economic aspect clearly.
 Share good practices and successful experiences to improve youth engagement in the governance
of agriculture and food systems; to address obstacles hindering youth ability to engage as
entrepreneurs, and to generate decent work opportunities for youth in agriculture and food
systems, at different scales (from local to global) and by different stakeholders (public, private or
civil society), including with respect to legislation and the enabling environment;
1st of all, these can be achieved through different aspects:
1. Education (Agriculture Technical colleges / Institutes).
2. Long term loan OR just subsidies.
3. Joined SME’s (small enterprises).
4. Agriculture Society.
5. Land tenure for the graduated youth.
6. Guaranteed markets (locally, regionally & internationally)
7. Farm business School
8. Maps & data base (soil, land, water, land suitability, investment …etc.)
Here in Oman we have a very good and successful practice, which is Agriculture Society in different
region of Oman for a different crop.
 Share the most recent references that should be considered in this report;
I don’t have it, but we can add here many case studies from different countries (it’s under formulation)
 Provide feedback on the following questions, identifying any gender issues, to guide the
development of the report:
1. Why is there a need to promote youth engagement and employment in agriculture and
food systems? What are the key issues and opportunities?
 To enhance the agriculture and food system by new high tech / pro. / apps. through youth.
 To supply the markets of high value crops and their manufactured food.
 To strengthen the supply chain & logistics of markets locally/regionally/internationally.
 Reduce the un-employee ratio in the countries.
 Reduce indirectly the crop damage and waste food.
 Change livelihood of new generation
 Family security and safety.
 Food security for their future.

2. How do the evolution and transitions of agriculture, food systems and nutrition affect youth
engagement and employment? How can agriculture and food systems employment become more
attractive for youth, especially considering the rural-urban continuum? What would be needed to
improve standards of living and services in rural areas and mid-sized towns, to retain youth and
young families?
These can be achieved by minimize by:
 Reconsider the Land Use in rural areas based on agricultural land suitability.
 Call for local / regional / international agriculture investments.
 Build up the infrastructure (roads, telecommunication, markets…etc.) for the agriculture business.

3. What governance transformations are necessary to enable and encourage youth participation in
agriculture and food systems, and what actions are required to equip youth with the necessary
skills and confidence in fully engaging in these decision-making processes?
 Market
 Education (college level at least)
 Training
 Loan / subsidies
 Logistic
 Involve the youth farmers in agriculture and food exhibitions.  

4. What are the most promising pathways to transform current agriculture and the food systems in
developing countries to make them more attractive to the youth?
Soil maps, investment maps and data base THEN visibility studies THEN SME’s with government
support THEN farming THEN communication (local, regional, international, markets) THEN logistic
companies sustainability

5. What are the best strategies for fully engaging youth, in particular young women, in opportunities
to acquire adequate skills and learning opportunities to further develop their knowledge and
enable them to be leaders in innovative agriculture and the transformation of food systems?
Training, Facilities, SME’s, Markets

6. What are the most appropriate policies to remove obstacles to empower youth initiate and/or
upscale activities in agriculture and related services, in the food supply chain, in agro ecology, and
in the food environment, as well as in nutrition and innovation, in accordance to their skills,
aspirations, assets and contexts?
 Reduce or Remove taxes for a certain year
 Give them a loan with very low interest
 Well and long term training program (farming, pest treatment, irrigation, farming business …. etc)
 Open a guaranteed market for their products

7. What are the most appropriate policies and initiatives to facilitate the education-to-labour market
transition and youth recruitment and retention in agriculture and food systems’ related activities?
Government and/or organizations must give an attention to build up a system of agriculture
technical colleges (irrigation system insulation, farming system technique, farm business school,
livestock related issue …. etc)
 What nodes and activities in supply chains have the highest potential for generating decent jobs
for youth? Logistic of agriculture and livestock products.
 Import/export businesses.
 Markets
 Integrated Agricultural Project (plant / livestock)
What new types of training are needed foster more agro ecological approaches to farming?
 Modern or high tech agriculture (integrated hydroponic and aquaponics system).
 Farm business school
 How to build up an agriculture society.

8. What is the extent of wage discrepancies against youth and women in agriculture and food
systems, and what are some successful experiences in removing such wage differentials?

 1st part: the discrepancies in this issue depending on countries development and counties GDP.
 2nd part: we can remove these differences by involving the youth farmer’s (both gender) as
partners and shareholders in the agricultural project

9. What data is necessary to support policy development to enhance youth engagement and
employment, and to create awareness of the specific needs, vulnerabilities and opportunities of
disadvantaged youth?
On country level we need the following:
1. Total population
2. Gender ratio
3. Gender ration on the base of different age
4. Gender qualification
5. Population density and distribution map
6. Investment map
7. Land use map
8. Land suitability map
9. Soil & water maps
10. Integrated studies of the targeted areas for the agriculture and food systems.
11. Local, regional & international markets.
12. Agricultural education data.
 13. Training / Agriculture extension / Farming business school data

20. Stephen Kimani, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Here are some brief comments on promoting the youth's active participation in agriculture and food
systems:
1. Designing agriculture training programs/offerings (e.g. agribusiness) and training methods (for
instance through ICT, community-based, industry-informed, mentorship, etc) that are appropriate
to the youth.
2. Involving key stakeholders (such as parents, local communities, etc) and not just students.
3. Pursuing value-addition in the food and agriculture value-chain.
4. Development of ICT-based innovations and interventions for agriculture and food security (for
instance: via mobile technologies, Internet-of-Things, drones, etc).
5. Promoting youth's access to credit for agriculture and food security projects, activities and
businesses.
6. Promoting youth's access to natural resources (e.g. land), agricultural inputs and markets for
agriculture and food security projects, activities and businesses.
7. Creating social and support networks through which the youth can share information and access
services.

21. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India

When we conduct surveys, often we consult & take into account the views of Head of household, who is
generally male & aged.This excludes the young & women who too has stake in agriculture, if not much
now but surely they are the future farmers. Once we get their views on the problems and constraints and
how they can be supported, then only we can develop policies which support their constructive
engagments in agriculture, help them retaining in rural areas to avoid migrating to cities. Youth often find
it exciting to work on value chains, rather than just primary production of agricultural commodities. In our
youth mentoring programme, we found youth were more excited meeting agripreneurs compared to
farmers doing routine farming activities. The agripreneurs were adding value to primary farm products by
processing,  packaging and handling marketing even online selling farm products. Many youth are now
organizing themselves as Farmer producer groups and enjoy marketing farm products alongside producing
farm commodities innovatively. There is need to bring changes in school curriculums to ignite young minds
on modern farming practices including export orientations, we need more youth mentoring programmes,
handholding to establish them into agribusinesses. We are currently supporting agri-startups, wherein,
many innovative ideas by youths are being incubated in research institutions and universites. Young and
women are taking lot of interest in agriventures, which gives positive signals for farming sector. Also, many
youths with urban background, are now taking up agriculture, often giving up their high profile jobs. These
are new role models for rural youths.  Agriculture sector needs more glamour, we have to make it
attractive to youth.
https://ypard.net/2017-09-11/make-agriculture-%E2%80%98cool%E2%80%99-youth-8th-gfras-annual-
meeting
https://ypard.net/testimonials/mentoring-rural-youth-make-agriculture-attractive
 22. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India
This relates to youth access to extension &  advisory services
In 2013, I published a blog, "Youth: Potential Target for Agricultural Extension" , wherein, I emphasised
reorineting extension services keeping youth as potential target. Youth are often more willing to adopt
new ideas and technologies compared older generation of farmers,  therefore, agricultural extension
services should target youth to transform agriculture.Young farmers often have greater capacity for
innovation, imagination, initiative and entrepreneurship than older adults and these characteristics should
be effectively harnessed by extension services to provide better livelihood opportunities for youth in
agriculture. In India, a number of programmes, initiatives have been taken to engage youth.
Please visit my blog at
https://www.aesanetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/AESA-BLOG-10.pdf

23. Olanike Deji, Obafemi Awolowo University, University

Youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food system can be effectively promoted
from curricula and practical aspects. Youth, who are the majority of most developing nations’ populations,
are not attracted to taking agriculture as a profession nor as an entrepreneur or career.
From the perspectives and experience in most developing countries, the main reasons identified are i.
Agriculture is perceived and practiced as males’ enterprise, although females are the majority of the
workforce; ii. The use of manual tools, as well as the unattractive nature of farming; and iii. Its low
profitability; agriculture is associated with poverty among the youth.
Hence, to promote youth’s engagement and employment in agriculture, there must be i. conscious
mainstreaming of gender and ICT into the teaching, research, service provision, and practice of agriculture
at all levels; ii. Development of gender-responsive low cost and available technologies to ease activities
along the Agriculture value chain; iii. Youth empowerment and the teaching of agriculture as a profit-
oriented subject at all levels; and v. formulation and implementation of gender-responsive policies at all
levels. (Olanike Deji, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria.

24. Olanike Deji, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria

Promoting youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food system
From the academic and practical points of view, youth, who are the majority of most developing nations’
populations, are not usually attracted to taking agriculture as a profession, career, or enterprise.
From the developing nations' perspective, the main reasons identified are i. Agriculture is perceived and
practiced as males’ enterprise, although females are the majority of the workforce; ii. The use of manual
tools, as well as the unattractive nature of farming; and iii. Its low profitability; agriculture is associated
with poverty among the youth.
Hence, to promote youth’s engagement and employment in agriculture, there must be i. conscious
mainstreaming of gender equity principles and ICT into the teaching, research, service provision, and
practice of agriculture at all levels; ii. Development of gender-responsive low cost and available
technologies to ease activities along the Agriculture value chain; iii. Youth empowerment and teaching
agriculture as a profit-oriented subject at all levels; and v. formulation and implementation of gender-
responsive policies at all levels. (Olanike Deji, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria)
 25. Scott Justice, Myanmar
Building on Dick Tinsley's recommendation I would add that in the Asia experience with ag
mechanization,  is not only the mechanizing of agriculture itself that will keep help some of the youth to
stay at home but also that its this mechanization drives growth in the rural non-farm  sector (e.g. old school
rural development) located just beyond the farm gates. With RNFS need for people working initially in the
support services for the machinery (mechanics/repair, sales of spare parts, driving tractors (whether 2 or 4
WTs)  for both farming and off season transport ,  the mechanizing,  when water was available drove
intensification from one crop to 2 and occassionally even 3 crops per year, yet  generates less than 40% of
the farm HH income with the >60% coming from work in nearby growing rural markets where jobs were
found in small factories, mills, construction.  These and many others are the jobs that make up the non-
farm rural sector.   See the work of Sattar Mandal and Mahbub Hoosain showing that in early 2000s rural
non-farm sector growth rate of 7 %  was outpacing the national growth rate and both economists
attributed it to the introduction of  2WTs, pumpsets threshers etc as starter for this growth RNFS.
As Dick suggests it would be good for government and project to first focus these Asian style technologies
in intensifying existing irrigated rice systems (with not only simple tillage and crop establishment tech but
also simple harvesters threshers AND trailers all powered by the tractors) but then even bigger and larger
project efforts that focus on harder to mechanize and intensify rainfed systems not just with the
machinery but with rainfed no-till/strip till (ripper)/reduced till implements and  agronomies.  Such
programs would not only be tech driven but also market development driven working closely with local
suppliers for fair pricing supply of spares for machinery (something I see as a big problem in West and East
AFrica)  but also be training operators, mechanics and even granting major caches of spare parts to
mechanics to jump start the RNFS.   

26. EVS Prakasa Rao, Independent Researcher, India

Agriculture has to be made fashionable and technically challenging for rural youth. Therefore, a
combination of technical upgradation, policy support to use high end technologies will attract rural youth
to agriculture. Systems have to be designed so that agriculture forms a part of income of rural youth and
other sectors for eg. services etc. should form a formidable and  extra sources of their income.

27. Joel Samson Ruvugo, People’s Open Access Education Initiative, United Republic of
Tanzania
Promoting Youth Engagement and Employment in Agriculture and Food Systems – e-consultation on the
Report’s scope, proposed by the HLPE Steering Committee.
“Harness your mind because what happens in your mind is likely to happen in your *1future” as per Joel
Samson RUVUGO, 2011.
Promoting Youth Engagement and Employment in Agriculture and Food Systems: Areas of Action.
1:0 The MAIN QUESTION is “WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE THAT *2CONTRACT FARMING IS CONSIDERED
ATTRACTIVE TO TRANSFORM MANY PEOPLE TO BE AGRIPRENEURS *3globally.
2:0 A FINGER POINTS at two areas:-
The AGRICULTURAL POLICY FRAMEWORK GUIDING AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT TO ENSHRINING
*4integrative agriculture.
Bridging the GAP of KNOWLEDGE AND PERFORMANCE within the support systems; namely, practicing
nutrition sensitive agriculture, access to technology, credit availability, market access and timely extension
services.
3:0 The HOMEWORK is:- WHAT IS THE ADDITIONAL POLICY EFFORTS ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ENCOURAGE
PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN INTEGRATIVE AGRICULTURE!
4:0 The KEY OPERATIVES in the TRANSFORMATION PROCESS will encompass many:-
4:1 The International Global Initiatives:
4:1:1 UN-The World Programme of Action on Youth (WPAY) – OPPORTUNITY;
4:1:2 The Istanbul Action Plan – OPPORTUNITY;
4:1:3 Global Value Chains.
4:2 Global National Governments, which provide an enabling environment in terms of:
4:2:1 Laws (Constitutions and Parliamentary Acts);
4:2:2 Policies on Human Development and agriculture;
4:2:3 Entities that provide [FinTech] technical and financial assistance;
4:3 The *5Youth who make the rubber to meet the road in integrative agriculture transformation.
TRANSFORMING THE MINDSET
The THEOREM of the Main Question is that what is promptly needed is *6TRANSFORMING THE MINDSET
at 2 levels:-
A: POLICY ARTICULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION PRACTICE at The Global National Government level in
terms of:-
A1: Articulation of Laws, policies and entities that are not enough *7pro-citizens;
A2: Implementation practice and culture [organisational value systems] that is not pro-citizens.
B: ENTREPRENEURIAL CAPACITY within the citizens to address issues of comparative advantage, downsides
and ability to harness opportunities and mitigation of risks.
B1: There are 4 PRIORITY pillars of SUCCESS:-
B1a: Vision [beginning with the end in mind – Contracting farming & Agriprenuers careers];
B1b: Passion [determination to succeed, attitude change];
B1c: Knowledge [skills, experience and information];
B1d: Financial management [FinTech strategies].
B2: Where are the ROLE MODELS to Promoting Youth Engagement and Employment in Agriculture and
Food Systems.
Footnote
1 *Short, medium and long event.
2 *An Agreement between farmers and processing and/or marketing firms for the production and supply
of agricultural products under forward agreements, frequently at predetermined prices. FAO; Contract
Farming: Partnerships for Growth; 2001.
3“…*globalisation is more than the flow of money and commodities—it is the growing interdependence of
the world’s people. And globalization is a process integrating not just the economy but culture, technology
and governance. People everywhere are becoming connected–affected by events in the far corners of the
world.” UNDP – Human Development Report 1999.
4 *Integrative agriculture is an oriented approach that merges the whole person, community and lifestyle,
which complements appropriate conventional and traditional practices.
5 *Young, Adaptable, Energetic, Savvy in FinTech, Oriented Global Climate Change, Smart Agriculture,
Lucrative, Good Income, Export Focused and Sexy!
6*Social Performance Management for direct customer and impacting beneficiary.
7 *India, Bangladesh, Republic of Korea have pro-citizen policies.

28. Rabiu Auwalu Yakasai, Food and Nutrition Vocational Center, Nigeria
Phase Out Aging Farmers from Farmer Associations
Youths’ engagement in agriculture and in any other development sector is a national problem and even
within the nation it could be regional or zone issue just the way it is in Nigeria. Take for example, northern
part of the country specifically northwest, here the bottom line problems of youths for agriculture and
food security development are more traditional more accurately than governance, literacy, technology
adoption or policy implementation. Looking back at the days when rural-urban movement was normal
daily agricultural marketing activity the youths were still born and bred in rural agricultural production
system that provided high level food security engagements. After each day’s movement to urban areas the
youths trace the way back to rural areas same day for rural life continuity. But rural-urban migration
started taking shape when rural youths come to understand they are sidelined in community development
aspects controlled by the elders. Remember, agriculture was then very attractive and profitable and any
person who entirely depends on agriculture was well respected in the community. However, in the elders
state of mind a youth is always small-minded disorganized human being that should not be entrusted with
community’s development aspects until the age 40 plus. At that material time females are out of the
question as they were kept only for raising family and household affairs. Western education was
deliberately denied for youths in fear of them taking over elders’ prominence in the community. Time
changes and so everything!
This negative traditional trend hunts youths to date that couldn’t be unassociated with failures of farmer
associations in the region. The connection between farmer associations and food security is organizational
attitude to acquiring knowledge and skill for positive change and organizational ability brought by internal
unity of purpose, interest and responsibility under one roof of vision to produce, distribute and share. By
traditional design and suppression aging out farmers are always leaders in emerging farmers organizations
since time immemorial. They are the administrators; technical directors and commercial managers in any
farmer organization found in the region. Under this dispensation the youths have no chance of bailing out
to open development opportunities for themselves and community at large while food security and
nutrition shall continue suffering until there is radical changes in the structure and duties and
responsibilities of such organizations.
By rough estimation there are over 20 million population of graduate, skilled and unskilled youths in
northwest region of Nigeria that are idly living on massive arable land with water reservoirs sufficient
enough to support year round agricultural productions for direct consumption, supply local manufacturing
industries and for exporting. This will never happen beyond 2030 unless aging out farmers are
graciously and tactically phased out of the leadership seats of farmer organizations for gradual
replacement with upcoming energetic, knowledge-full, innovative and intelligent male and female youths
to manage and control all aspects of farmer organizations across the region.    

29. Tapera Chivhaka, UNISA, South Africa

All African countries are talking land redistribution. This is the right time to seriously consider how the
Youth and woman are involved. Not everyone should go into farming. Those Youth that has a sort of
qualification or background in Agriculture should be considered. This indicates that Agriculture is seriously
considered as carrier. We should avoid the situation which happened in Zimbabwe where land was
distributed to politicians. Politicians should be politicians. Farmers should be farmers!
 30. Karol Kissane, Ireland
One of the main issues agriculture currently faces worldwide is one of perception. Be that the perception
of agriculture as a backward industry where one only gets involved in it if you have no other options or of
agriculture destroying the environment and one of the main causes of climate change.
These perceptions need to change. This change will have to happen at a young age and children must be
enabled to see what an exciting prospect it is to be involved in agriculture. 
Attached is a Nuffield report looking at just this issue, it was written from an Irish perspective but it could
easily be adjusted for any region or country. If it can be ensured that this generation of children grow up
with an appreciation, interest and even an excitement around the possibilities that agriculture offers them,
then the world will reap the benefits in the future.
Attachment:
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/Karol-Kissane-2018-
report.pdf

31. Virenda Kamalvanshi, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University,

India
Why is there a need to promote youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food systems?
What are the key issues and opportunities
Youth plays a very important role in any economy because they are highest contributors of nations
productivity, they are considered as the backbone of the economy, they are new Minds that seek for new
opportunities and can take challenges. Youth needs to empower with appropriate skills so that they can
manage their livelihood with proper dignity and support to the family. Lack of proper literacy, skills and
training, ethnocentric and lack innovation in agriculture detach youth from engaging in agriculture. In most
of the developing countries, agriculture plays an important role and most of the agricultural practices in
these countries are very traditional. Technology is a key to innovation, improvement of technology
especially in case of agriculture not only help to achieve economic growth but also create an impact on
food environment by increasing productivity, profitability, sustainability efficiently use of resources in the
most important it will give better monetary returns to attract youth in the new world of agriculture. 
What are the best strategies for fully engaging youth, in particular, young women, in opportunities to
acquire adequate skills and learning opportunities to further develop their knowledge and enable them to
be leaders in innovative agriculture and the transformation of food systems?
Domestication of animals and wild varieties was then by women they have an inbuilt ability for love, care
and management of resources. For a young woman to acquire adequate skills and become a leader in
innovative agriculture they should be given the possibilities for proper skill development, proper
studies/education related to agriculture and food. Small training on various technical skills and knowledge
should be provided to them on various new reconsider technologies, along with credit requirements for a
venture. Empowerment and confidence-building programs can attract women's towards agriculture
especially technological program where human as a resource is used most. Increasing confidence by
appreciating and motivating women's to perform better than male counterparts. Organizations of women
related to small businesses. Women should increase participation through other organizations like the self-
help groups in which they can take the benefit of the organization, sharing, leadership. 
 32. Kim Conely, Nutritional Diversity, Panama
Our team here in Panama has been running a volunteer youth agriculture program since 2013. We have
mainly had troubled youth here, and have them to be the best farmers!!
Seriously we can change the word "troubled" in the previous description to "perfectly inclined to farm"
with these youngsters.
The spine of our operation, whom is at this time in another place away from digital coms at the moment
wantede to make sure I touched up and submitted his master work, on returning young people to
agriculture. This textual materpeice has been in the making for four years now, and we all here KNOW that
it will not only bring youth back to agriculture, but the right youth, and the shift proposed and mapped
well in the following hand-down is more significant than any of would imagine.
To the future, a place far from the past.
Kim Conley
Student & Writer
Nutritional Diversity Sciences
Panama City, Panama
Attachment:
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/ND_REVISION3.pdf

33. Vide Adedayo, University of Lagos, Nigeria

As a Coordinator of the University of Lagos Organic Demonstration Farm, I have come to realize that over
90% of the students who actively participate in the farm practical do so in order to earn mark to boost
their grades and not with for interest for career development. The lack of motivation stems from non
automation of the current farm infrastructure (manual tilling watering, weeding etc), degraded soil
resulted from prolong use of synthetic input, insufficient access to organic input and unavailability of
simple test kits that can aid practical learning and research among others. These challenges have huge
impact on students’ perception and behavior and further close their understanding about the
opportunities that fly around farming activities.

34. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India

Nationaal Youth policies & programmes
When we talk of youth engagement, automatically policies & programmes in different countries   flashes
into our minds, since the things would progress as per the policy and programmes in the respective
countries. In India, National Youth Policy-2014 (NYP-2014), was approved for implementation replacing
NYP-2003. This is a comprehensive document produced after multiple rounds of discussions by many
different experts from different sectors, institutions. It reflects the thinking of Indian government, how
best it plans to engage Indian youths. Also, some programmes on youth engagement are under
implementation in India, like ARYA, MAYA. Realizing the importance of rural youth in agricultural
development of the country, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has initiated a programme on
“Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture (ARYA)”. This is expected to attract and empower the Youth
in Rural Areas to take up various Agriculture, allied and service sector enterprises for sustainable income
and gainful employment in selected districts, (ii) to enable the Farm Youth to establish network groups to
take up resource and capital intensive activities like processing, value addition and marketing, (iii) To
demonstrate functional linkage with different institutions and stakeholders for convergence of
opportunities available under various schemes/program for sustainable development of youth.The ARYA
programme is under implementation in 25 States through KVKs, one district from each State. In one
district, 200-300 rural youths are identified for their skill development in entrepreneurial activities and
establishment of related micro-enterprise units. KVKs are involving with the Agricultural Universities and
ICAR Institutes as Technology Partners. At KVKs also one or two enterprise units are being established so
that they serve as entrepreneurial training units for farmers. The purpose is to establish economic models
for youth in the villages so that youths get attracted in agriculture and overall rural situation is improved.
Likewise, another initiative by name Motivating and Attracting Youth in Agriculture (MAYA) is also being
promoted to create a “Mission for Youth in Agriculture” and “Regional Platform for Youth in Agriculture”
with neighboring countries as partners  towards  attracting youth in agriculture by providing them lucrative
alternatives. Such initiatives might be there in other countries too which can be reviwed to see their
applicability in other countries for adapting/scaling up. The links given below give some information about
these programmes.
Introduction of National Youth Policy-2014
https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=102398
National Youth Policy, 2014, India  
http://www.rgniyd.gov.in/sites/default/files/pdfs/scheme/nyp_2014.pdf
ICAR organizes two-day conference on Motivating & Attracting Youth in Agriculture (MAYA)
https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=183180
To stop youth turning away from farming, ARYA sows the seeds of agrarian change
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/to-stop-youth-turning-away-from-
farming-arya-sows-the-seeds-of-agrarian-change/article9663485.ece
http://www.icarzcu3.gov.in/projects/arya.html

35. Arthur Kuhn, Young Leaders Committee of the Brazilian Rural Society, Brazil
Demand for food in the world economic scenario is increasing due to population growth and consumer
incomes. Increased productivity, the use of new technologies, allied to the efficient management of
Brazilian agribusiness, including the use of quality management programs and professionalized
administrative processes, led Brazil to abandon the vulnerability situation of the 1990s and became the
world's second largest exporter of food by volume.
As coordinator responsible for the project of the Leadership and Youth Committee of the Brazilian Rural
Society, the initiative aims to raise the eyes of new generations to the dynamics of agribusiness in the 21st
century. Agribusiness is modernizing every day and only the constant renewal of knowledge, management
and production techniques can follow the growth of activity. The sector needs the knowledge of these
professionals.
Modernization in the management of rural properties is the main draw for the new generations. We need
to show, not only to young people, but also to other generations in charge of the properties, that
modernization in management is necessary to attract new generations and give continuity to the producer
to have competitiveness, efficiency and sustainability in the field. The advancement of technology also
influences the reduction of rural exodus and brings job and income opportunities for young people from
the city. Now the concern of young people is what happens outside the rural property. They are looking for
more skills to compete in an increasingly competitive market.
Governance is essential in a world of open information; the exponential development of information
technologies means businesses must consistently innovate. In the case of Brazilian agribusiness, low
carbon technologies are being increasingly implemented. In addition, implementing field sensors installed
by several farmers, using drones to capture aerial images that allow us to monitor crop development in
relation to pests, diseases or other problems in the field, use of software and applications and marketplace
implementation are necessary to encourage youth participation. The skills these young people are
expected to possess at this new juncture, who previously needed to combine knowledge about agronomy,
logistics, meteorology and finance, will need to increase his range of knowledge, especially in terms of
technology. In addition to a high emotional intelligence, judgment and decision making, people
management, creativity, critical thinking, complex problem solving, cognitive flexibility and negotiation.
Introduction of new technologies to production systems allow us to expand results in the field with
significant cost savings and especially with mitigation of environmental impacts. From this point of view,
the professionals of the field will undoubtedly remain the farmers. However, the trend is that this new
farmer will have a more technical and open profile for technology adoption in the face of the challenge of
producing viable scale.
Agribusiness is still a very masculine environment, but this scenario has been changing in recent years. One
strategy to engaging young women would be to start looking at the organizational culture of the rural
enterprise and aligning it with market demands. Young women have keener empathy skills, are better able
to seek help, are majority in universities, eat healthier, have a stronger immune system and live longer.
Policies that encourage the professional qualification of these young people are required to encourage the
young protagonism, as well as public policies that encourage them to undertake, overcoming obstacles
such as high taxation and lack of credit.

36. Brian Baldwin, IAFN, Italy

Please see attached the IAFN/PSM position paper on ENGAGING, RECRUITING, AND RETAINING YOUTH
IN AGRICULTURE as a contribution to the discussion on scoping of the forthcoming HLPE report.
with thanks and regards
Brian Baldwin
Private Sector Mechanism Position Paper

ENGAGING, RECRUITING, AND RETAINING YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE

By 2050, the world will have to feed as many as 9.7 billion people. One key to success in tackling this global
challenge is to engage young agricultural leaders and equip them with the knowledge, resources, and
access to markets needed to produce and distribute food to feed the world.

The PSM’s goal is to actively contribute to increased engagement, recruitment, and retention of youth in
agricultural professions.

PSM will support the following to further engage young people in agriculture:

1) Legitimize and celebrate agriculture as a viable and profitable professional choice.

• Reframe agriculture as a business choice that is intellectually, socially, and financially
rewarding, as well as one in which young people can have an incredible impact on issues
such as climate change, hunger, displacement, poverty, and more.
• Support initiatives, such as educational programmes, conferences, and experiential
learning opportunities, that share success stories and inspire young people to become
agricultural leaders from an early age.
• Celebrate school feeding and early childhood food security programmes that nurture a
lifelong commitment to sustainable food production.
• Create innovative partnerships and collaborations with existing entities, including youth
groups, research institutions, and schools, as well as with non-adjacent industries and
organizations.
• Invest in the rural-urban continuum to allow agricultural professionals to engage with the
social and cultural benefits of cities without sacrificing the needs of the farm.
2) Recruit talent into agriculture.
• Showcase the diversity of career options within the food system to attract talented young
people with demonstrated interest in such areas as biology, environmental science,
agricultural engineering, plant science, politics, economics, marketing, business, sales, and
more.
• Connect young agricultural leaders from diverse countries and regions to scholarships,
professional development opportunities, mentors, and networks.
• Highlight successes of young agricultural leaders and empower them to serve as role
models for others.
• Celebrate national strategies that incentivize entry into the field, especially those that
support fair compensation to farmers, work to alleviate stigmas against agricultural
professions, simplify access to markets, and mobilize government resources for knowledge
sharing between countries and sectors.
• Provide farmers platforms to share their innovative work in agriculture that advances the
SDGs.
• Support value adding for youth through innovation throughout the agrifood value chain.

3) Develop systems with the unique needs of young people in mind.

 Work to eliminate high barriers to entry into agriculture, especially for young people who
do not inherit land and/or knowledge from their families. Create and publicize
opportunities to access innovative financing, access to credit, land tenure laws, accessible
trainings, and ongoing professional development, with attention to the fact that the
timeline for agricultural innovation is longer than that for other industries and therefore
implies greater risk.
• Encourage innovative uses of technology throughout the agrifood chain to capitalize on
the strengths of young people and maximize yields; use technology, automation, and data-
driven aspects of modern farming to engage more young farmers.
• Encourage governments to leverage resources to give youth, women, and new farmers
advantages in penetrating new markets and territories.
• Support young farmers as they grapple with the effects of changing weather patterns,
political instability, market volatility, and increasing pest pressures, and work to minimize
these pressures to the greatest extent possible.
• Design education initiatives that acknowledge the importance of national and regional
culture and ensure relevant by engaging local and traditional knowledge.
• Incentivize agricultural R&D, including R&D supported by farm groups, cooperatives and
private sector

4) Commit resources to develop knowledge and capacity among the next generation of farmers and
agripreneurs.
• Encourage inclusion of agri-food in the curricula of every primary and secondary
education.
• Invest in tertiary education for agriculture, with a focus on numeracy and finance;
agronomics; communications and marketing; agriculture-specific business management;
supply chain management; logistics; food processing and value addition; and innovative
retail.
• Structure university programmes that train students to practically apply academic
knowledge in the marketplace.
• Invest in agricultural colleges and universities in the form of monetary support, diligent
knowledge sharing, ongoing development for instructors and professors, practical learning
 approaches that integrate academic and production-focused learning opportunities, and
more.
• Improve rural advisory services, with a stress on (1) focusing on best-fit approaches, (2)
embracing pluralism, (3) using participatory approaches, (4) developing capacity, and (5)
ensuring long-term institutional support.
• Incorporate information on sustainable agri-food practices into extension and professional
development programmes
• Capitalize on the unique strengths and opportunities of developing countries, as the policy
and regulatory environments of the developing world can allow for more nimble
innovation and adaptation.
• Reduce post-harvest losses through proper storage and transportation by creating
cooperative storage facility for youth to access.

5) Integrate youth engagement with the movement for gender equality in agriculture.
• Support causes that ensure that girls have equal access to the education necessary to
prepare them for a career in the agrifood chain.
• Commit specific effort to attracting and supporting women farmers.
• Work to break cycles of intergenerational poverty suffered by women farmers, while also
actively working to dispel the association between agricultural careers and poverty.
• Support actors who acknowledge the unique needs of women and proactively challenge
systems that disenfranchise them.
• Celebrate initiatives that make agrifood professions accessible to both men and women of
varying physical and mental abilities and a broad spectrum of ages.

37. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India

I published," Walking the talk; mentoring rural youth to Make agriculture attractive" at YPARD on 23rd
May, 2017. Among several other articles on youth engagement,  I published, "Youth and social media: A
leverage for agripreneurship" at YPARD on 31st July, 2018 & another, "Train, engage, employ and retain"
published on 28October, 2017 at YPARD . The links of these articles given here:
https://ypard.net/2017-may-23/walking-talk-mentoring-rural-youth-make-agriculture-attractive
https://ypard.net/2018-07-31/youth-and-social-media-leverage-agripreneurship
https://ypard.net/news/train-engage-employ-and-retain

38. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India

While looking for the recent references on what are the most appropriate initiatives to facilitate the
education-to-labour market transition and youth recruitment and retention in agriculture and food
systems’ related activities? that should be considered in this report:
I found that ADB approved new $400-M loan to back Jobstart program in Philippines. This will support the
Department of Labor and Employment’s (DoLE) Jobstart scheme for at-risk youth in Phillippines. JobStart is
a five-year-old DoLE program to enhance employability via one-on-one career coaching, technical skills
training, and paid internships with private sector employers. The ADB helped design and implement the
JobStart pilot project to assist the school-to-work transition of at-risk youth — those who are out of school,
unemployed, and not getting any training. Young people struggling to find jobs after they leave school is a
persistent problem in many developing countries including in the Philippines. Thus, creating wage jobs for
the youth is critical to helping reduce poverty and income inequality in these countries. More than 200
employers have so far partnered with the government under the JobStart program, benefiting more than
20,000 out-of-school youths about three-fifths of whom are women and more than two-thirds coming
from low-income households. The ADB and the government of Canada helped fund the pilot program,
now,  there are 35 Local Government Units (LGUs) administering the program nationwide in Philippines.
More Information:
https://www.adb.org/news/features/giving-hope-young-filipinos-through-jobstart-philippines
https://www.bworldonline.com/adb-approves-new-400-m-loan-to-back-jobstart-program/
https://policyblog.uni-graz.at/2017/08/jobstart-philippines-a-promising-project-with-some-obstacles/

39. Erand Llanaj, Public Health Research Institute, University of Debrecen, Hungary
1. Why is there a need to promote youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food
systems? What are the key issues and opportunities?
The global population is aging. Within this pattern we have the farmer’s population is aging as well.
Globalization has brought many benefits and opportunities, but youth is needed to uptake and implement
these changes. However, young people are increasingly aiming at non-agricultural professions and careers,
thus creating a gap in the agricultural sector! On top of that, we need youth more than ever, given the
growing population and hence demand for feeding them. Information and communication technologies
(ICTs) including smart phones, social media and internet are bringing new vibrancy and potential to
agricultural practices worldwide. Such tools and approaches can make it easier to address many potential
future challenges of our food systems, including limited arable land, weather patterns unpredictability, and
on-/off-farm losses. However, leveraging these tools to their fullest potential necessitates a certain set of
skills and technical expertise. Young people are more ready and enthusiastic to master and apply such
technologies to agricultural and food systems. This promises increased productivity and attainable
solutions and simultaneously can help youth see agriculture as a viable and profitable business
opportunity, while increasing interest and attraction of agriculture and food system related career paths to
them!
2. How do the evolution and transitions of agriculture, food systems and nutrition affect youth
engagement and employment? How can agriculture and food systems employment become more
attractive for youth, especially considering the rural-urban continuum? What would be needed to
improve standards of living and services in rural areas and mid-sized towns, to retain youth and young
families?
With all these opportunities at hand, it is important to examine the evolution of agriculture, food systems
and nutrition and how it can affect youth engagement and employment. Food systems have evolved
dramatically over recent decades to feed billions of people. However, the ‘triple burden’ of malnutrition
(hunger, insufficient nutrients, and overweight and obesity) is increasingly recognised, in parts of the
world, as the ‘new normal’. On the other hand, we cannot ignore the fact the food sector is responsible for
anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to decreased biodiversity, water pollution and
soil degradation. At the same time, a great amount of food produced is wasted or lost along the food
supply. Food systems are, however, an important source of livelihoods and a driver for a large number of
businesses, enterprises and markets. Employment in food production, manufacturing and service is some
of the lowest paid work – therefore attracting lesser and lesser youth. These, and many other problems are
all interconnected, and tend to have no single solution or line of responsibility. Solutions and
improvements in the functioning of food systems are often expected to derive from technological — and
especially agricultural — innovations driven by youth. Yet, we cannot look to these alone to address all the
challenges. New approaches based on ‘food-systems thinking’ are required, involving young people (both
males and females) and equipping them with the skills, tools and capabilities to better understand and
manage food-system complexity for food security, for the environment and for health. At the moment,
young people that want to engage in agriculture and food systems, particularly rural youth, face difficulties
accessing proper training, financial services, ‘green jobs’ and markets.
3. What governance transformations are necessary to enable and encourage youth participation in
agriculture and food systems, and what actions are required to equip youth with the necessary skills
and confidence in fully engaging in these decision-making processes?
There are opportunities and it is time to provide solutions by shifting the perception of farming and
agriculture within communities and populations, exposing youth more and early on to agriculture,
involving the in all aspects of the value chain (rather than just farming and introducing agriculture
problems to youth to resolve them – as there will be a time that they have to face these challenges alone!
4. What are the most promising pathways to transform current agriculture and the food systems in
developing countries to make them more attractive to the youth?
Youth participation has an important role in policy dialogue and decision-making on food systems, and
policy-makers should be encouraged to work not only for but also with youth, engaging youth in all phases,
since inception of processes and projects as well as conducting participatory assessments of their needs
and aspirations, migration patterns and rural/urban labour markets trends. For more youth engagement in
agri-food systems, governments and development partners need to create enabling environments that
foster decent work, promote large-scale programmes and innovations, enhance youth’s access to financial
resources, land, markets, agri-business development services, education & training, knowledge, and ICT.
5. What are the best strategies for fully engaging youth, in particular young women, in opportunities
to acquire adequate skills and learning opportunities to further develop their knowledge and enable
them to be leaders in innovative agriculture and the transformation of food systems?
Engaging youth and particularly young women to take ownership and leadership of change and progress in
agri-food systems, would require an organized approach at country-level that will support on youth
employment issues, with emphasis on agri-food systems and young women. This will require investment
and capacity building.
6. What are the most appropriate policies to remove obstacles to empower youth initiate and/or
upscale activities in agriculture and related services, in the food supply chain, in agroecology, and in the
food environment, as well as in nutrition and innovation, in accordance to their skills, aspirations,
assets and contexts?
This is a lot to consider, however, I think it boils down to inclusion of youth (both males and females) from
the very beginning into policy processes and implementation. Actions and projects should be linked to the
country leadership, infrastructure and capacities and youth must be organized, such as in the case of
farmer’s associations, but real power should be given to them, by placing them in the discussion tables
where important decisions for the agri-food system are made.
7. What are the most appropriate policies and initiatives to facilitate the education-to-labour market
transition and youth recruitment and retention in agriculture and food systems’ related activities?
What nodes and activities in supply chains have the highest potential for generating decent jobs for
youth? What new types of training are needed foster more agroecological approaches to farming?
Addressing systemic problems across the agri-food system needs people skilled in systems thinking and
equipped with soft skills to allow them to be capable within an often-challenging and increasingly
demanding working environment. Food systems need to be understood and managed from different and
multiple perspectives, and there is a growing need for people skilled in food-systems thinking across the
sector. New approaches based on ‘food-systems thinking’ are required, drawing on innovative types of
learning, analysis and institutional arrangements, coupled with greater collaboration between economists,
agriculturalists, policy makers, ecologists, engineers, food and crop scientists, and business, among many
others.
8. What is the extent of wage discrepancies against youth and women in agriculture and food
systems, and what are some successful experiences in removing such wage differentials?
Similar to other sectors, women and girls in agri-food system encounter challenges related to land access,
productive resources, managing income from land, education, financial services, and information.
Empowerment of women can increase farm productivity, agricultural outputs and ultimately contribute to
economic development. Considering that particularly young women face challenges related to agri-food
training, land and property access, and a lack of mentorship, resulting in an even greater need to find ways
to provide them with support, is crucial to consider social support and protection schemes and policies
that make it easier for women to acquire the access, skills and information they need. This way the wage
differences can be reduced and even eradicated.
9. What data is necessary to support policy development to enhance youth engagement and
employment, and to create awareness of the specific needs, vulnerabilities and opportunities of
disadvantaged youth?
All data on youth is crucial at this point. Mainly the estimates of current numbers (both males and females)
involved in the agri-food systems, training information and needs, etc. Good decisions are based on good
data, and in many countries, particularly low and lower middle-income countries, the availability of timely
and reliable rural, agricultural and food system statistics is largely lacking. This should be the focus.

40. Kenneth Senkosi, Kampala Capital City Authority, Uganda

Dear Team,
Many thanks for this important subject.
Indeed, it is a misconception that youth have little love for Agriculture. The truth, the odds don’t support
their thriving in Agriculture. Worldwide, it is a known fact that Agriculture is capital intensive - which
capital, youths can’t easily access given that for most economies particularly in developing nations,
Agriculture loans are not offered citing the high risky nature of farming. To your surprise, even insurance
agencies are reluctant to take on Agriculture investments saying there are too risky for their risk-related
interventions. This leaves farmers especially youths who are resource constraints at crossroads.
Secondly, Agriculture is driven, regulated and grown by markets. For the sake of developing countries,
youths are reluctant to engage in agriculture because the market thereof is rather distorted - its a market
that consumes whatever is dropped on it irrespective of the quality. There is no price incentive for quality
yet youths will always what to engage where there is a premium for quality so they can put their
innovative ingenuity to use - with certainty of the associated financial rewards.
Thirdly, our governments keep singing the song of how important Agriculture is to our economies,
however, this emphasis is not reflected in national curriculum and budgets - thus development
programmes. This where the youth would have been easily recruited into Agriculture with minimal effort.
In summary, the above challenges have not only limited youth recruitment, retention and engagement in
Agriculture but also greatly deterred their interest in same.
Thanks Team,
Kenneth Senkosi
Officer Agriculture
Kampala Capital City Authority, Uganda
 41. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India
Sharing here the  recent reference on Youth & extension, advisory services that should be considered in
this report:
Approximately 88 percent of the world’s 1.2 billion youth (ages 15 -24 as defined by the UN)  live in
developing countries. By 2050, the global population of youth is projected to rise to 1.8 billion, most of
them living in developing countries of Asia & Africa.This presents a challenge to many developing countries
given the need to create economic opportunities for this growing segment of the population. Agricultural
extension and advisory services present a unique opportunity to engage youth as both recipients and
providers of these services. EAS have an important role to play in youth and leadership development
throughout the education system, not just when young people enter the job market.The below mentioned
report on youth in extension and advisory services in Niger is one important diagnostic study, which could
be useful in developing EAS more relevant for youth.
Djamen. P. (2019). Youth in Extension and Advisory Services: Niger.Developing Local Extension Capacity
Project. USAID, Washington D.C.
https://www.digitalgreen.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/DLEC-Youth-in-Extension-and-Advisory-
Services-Niger.pdf

42. Florence Egal, Italy

 It is important to frame the report in the context of sustainable food systems and avoid falling back
into a supply driven approach to food and agriculture The reason youth are not engaging in
agriculture any longer is that the prevalent economic model has led to the degradation of rural
livelihoods and migration to cities. Youth leave in search of income (including remittances to send
home), opportunities and social services. The experience of developed and transition countries is
particularly enlightening, and pushing for more of the same will just not work.
 The emergence of neo-rurals (whose parents were not farmers) who engage in alternative
production systems may provide useful insights on what attracts youth to engage in agriculture and
food systems, learn about their experiences, understand the challenges they face and identify the
support they may need.
 Insufficient attention has been given in recent years to post-harvest activities. Food processing can
contribute to local economies, add value to local food production and facilitate access to safe and
convenient foods. And it can provide jobs for youth.  Territorial development policies should be
based on an inventory of local biodiversity and experience with a view to make the best of
sustainably managed natural resources.
 Catering and food delivery is probably the most effective source of employment and means of
integration of youth (including migrants) at local level and this will increase with more and more
people eating out of home. Here again, learning from recent experiences could contribute to
understanding youth expectations and creating an enabling environment. Housing (in particular for
young women) is a critical dimension. A rights-based approach will be essential to ensure
appropriate protection and regulations. 
 The necessary reorientation of food systems will require major changes in training and financial
services. Youth should not be pushed into indebtedness to finance unsustainable business models.
 The present economic system has led to closing social services in increasingly deserted rural areas,
leading in turn to acceleration of outmigration in search of social services. Inversing the trend by
investing into schools and cultural activities in rural areas and supporting off-farm activities (e.g.
eco-tourism, rural hospitality) can provide employment activities for youth (keeping local youth and
attracting young entrepreneurs). [See SongYang consensus attached].
  The integration of young migrants into increasingly deserted rural areas would provide an
opportunity to maintain, strengthen and revive local food systems.
Attachment:
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/SongYang
%20Consensus%20%20EN.pdf

43. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India

I liked the comment of Florence Egal, wherein, many practical issues have been mentioed.
Again, sharing two most recent references that may be considered in this report.
Africa,  Asia & the Pacific region are dominated by huge youth population, where the governments are
under pressure to create more and better jobs for the region’s young and rapidly growing population. The
following two recent publications may beuseful while writing the report on youths.
1. Roehlano Briones. 2019.Investing in rural youth in the Asia and the Pacific region.IFAD
https://www.ifad.org/documents/38714170/41187395/18_Briones_2019+RDR_BACKGROUND+PAPER.pdf
/48ab25bb-6a55-e883-bfe3-053348a4b865
This background paper was originally  prepared for the Rural Development Report 2019 “Creating
Opportunities for Rural Youth”. It characterizes the structural and rural transformation of the Asia and the
Pacific region (APR), highlighting the implications for rural youth opportunities and challenges, and
identifying and elaborating on the characteristics, opportunities and challenges related to rural youth
inclusion.
2. YOUTH AND JOBS IN RURAL AFRICA: BEYOND STYLIZED FACTS, by Valiere Mueller & James Thurlow. The
book launch Co-Organized by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the CGIAR
Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM) is scheduled on Jan 21, 2020 - 12:15 - 01:15
PM EST 1201 Eye Street NW, 12th Floor Conference Center, Washington, DC 20005, United States
http://pim.cgiar.org/2020/01/09/book-launch-youth-and-jobs-in-rural-africa-beyond-stylized-facts/?
utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+cgiar-pim+
(Policies,+Institutions,+and+Markets)

44. Amanda Namayi, Kenya

Why is there a need to promote youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food systems?
What are the key issues and opportunities?
The world population is on the upward trend with statistics estimating a projected population of 9Billion
people by the year 2050. In order to sustain the growing population, there is an indubitable need to
become more creative in food production and bolstering food systems and agri-food value chains. The
youth demographic are known to be innovative with the agility required to make Zero Hunger a reality. In
the wake of Climate Crisis, we have seen the youth at the fore in campaigning for a more sustainable
environment. When it comes to Climate Smart Agriculture, the youth have the opportunity to be more
adept in mitigating the effects of climate change while sustainably producing food. Though this may sound
easy, there are challenges that youth agripreneurs face especially when it comes to access to markets and
financing. We see that there are unequal market forces that put the farmer at a disadvantage while
middlemen make the greatest kill. When it comes to youth access to finance, the loan requirements are
quite steep and most youth in agriculture often lack the collateral required or some are considered
“unbankable”. With the interventions on increasing youth access to agri-finance and market linkages, there
has been notable improvement although there is still much ground to be covered.

45. Mary Mwema, Kenya

Question 5
What are the best strategies for fully engaging youth especially young women like I in opportunities to
acquire adequate skills and learning opportunities to further develop the knowledge and enable them to
be leaders in innovative agriculture and transformation of food systems?
1. I have been fortunate enough to be engaged in the FAO FSN online webinars and discussions especially
on agricultural policy and this move to digitize information sharing is one of the sure way to attract youths
into progressive discussions. If the callswould be posted on twitter, where most youths are active, it would
gain further following.
2. I also propose seating the youths in the decision making tables and walking with them as solution
providers during the process. Such an effort as this is highky appreciated and will further bear fruit if you
consider the youth applicants who have time, ability and reading culture.
3. Youths seek the technical know-how and offering practical hands on experience through business
communities can also be a valid selling point.
4. Innovating arounf solutions originating from rural youth and women farmers will give the solutions
sustainability as the users are already familiar with the components of their own proposed solutions
emanating from first hand experience. This reinforces experiential learning.
Attachments:
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/THE%20FACE%20TO
%20THE%20NAME-YOUTH.docx
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/DESIGN%20THINKING
%20FOR%20SUSTAINALE%20AGRICULTURAL%20ENTERPRISES.docx

46. Gabriel Kilama, SKILAGRO CO. LTD (National Youth Champion in Agriculture), Uganda
What governance transformations are necessary to enable and encourage youth participation in
agriculture and food systems, and what actions are required to equip youth with the necessary skills and
confidence in fully engaging in these decision-making processes?
Mindset were youth are regarded us impatient and unreliable needs to be transformed. It should be noted
that young people are simply curious about every idea presented to them. Projects meant to benefit young
people can only be for young people if it was designed and implemented in collaboration with us. Yes,
young people have lost big in quick money-making and losing options such as sports betting whose
proprietors receive better attention from most African leaders and legislators than their agribusiness
counterparts. This vice needs to be regulated and attention is given to quick money making agribusinesses
such as vegetable, pig, and poultry including off-farm agribusinesses such as grain aggregation and value
addition which the core for SKILAGRO CO LTD. Facilitating peer to peer mentorship and experience sharing
remains one of the areas underfunded and unexplored yet it has potential impact of attracting and
retaining into agriculture and food systems.
Inadequate financial and legal support to youth agribusiness. Across my country, thousands of young
people are starting up their own income-generating activities and more so agribusiness from the age as
young as 14 years old and ranging from poultry, pig and vegetable farming as a business. Multiple times
most of these young people businesses do not leave to see their 1st birthdays. Why? Parents, guidance,
Friends, and relatives put no respect for the young people's ‘’little” investment. Their enterprises have
been dissolved to settle domestic and issues that are not of interest to young people.   Many young people
have taken their lives after discovering that their only assets/investments have been misused without their
authorization. These government interventions and non-governmental should target not only funding
youth to start IGA but also aimed at funding legal protection to these young people businesses.
The only sector that brings most African government closure to the poor and unemployed masses is the
agriculture sector.  The real priority for African leader(s) is seen on the budget that they sign to during
annual budget release. You are lucky if your government passes a budget that have the agriculture sector
in the top 10 sectors funded. When it comes to talking about sectors with potential for economic growth
and job creation and household income, confusingly my mighty sector is praised to the maximum. These
issues need to address if the various development goals are to be achieved
Young people be regarded as partners rather than beneficiaries of development initiatives. Often times
development and government project are introduced to young people as if they are meant to benefit by
only receiving items such as farm inputs, pieces of training and or tools. This concept needs to be changed
and youth projects need to be inaugurated well and co-investment for even the smallest support be
encouraged. Actually what affects the quality of support given to young people is the donor/government
requirement to reach out to a big number of young people within a short time. Meaning that even success
of a given intervention should not be measured on number reached per se but rather how an intervention
has a trickle-down and sustain impact in line with income and employment possibilities to young people.
I hope these add some values

47. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India

This report should also consider youths in context of the skills and their employability
For instance, India has a lot of unemployed youth, and hundreds of vacancies, but the problem is the skill
gap issue. Students are being taught skills that today’s jobs do not need anymore. According to the data
produced by the Global Business Coalition for Education (GBC-Education), the Education Commission, and
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), approximately 54% of South Asian youth that leave school will
lack the necessary skills to find a decent job by 2030. The data also said that more than 50% of Indian
youth are not on track to have the education and skills necessary for employment by 2030.
The proportion of formally skilled workers in India is extremely low, at 4.69% of total workforce, compared
to 24% in China, 52% in the US, 68% in the UK, 75% in Germany, 80% in Japan and 96% in South Korea. The
mismatch between skill, academic training and employment has broadened to an extent where, on one
hand, employers are unable to discover suitably trained people, and on the other, the youth is unable to
find the kind of jobs they aspire for. According to the latest India Skill Report (2019), only 45.6% of the
youth graduating from educational institutions are employable.
A report commissioned by UNICEF and compiled by Ernst & Young India outlined several challenges in
equipping Indian youth with adequate skills. These included issues like lack of quality trainers, proper
timing of training programs and time-consuming certification processes. The report also pointed out that
most institutions in India still follow outdated curricula. In addition to this, inadequate infrastructure and
quality of faculty make it difficult to provide students with relevant skills demanded by the labour market.
UNICEF. Developing Skills in youth to succeed in the evolving South Asian Economy
https://www.unicef.org/rosa/media/4496/file/India%20Country%20Report.pdf
More Than 50% Of Indian Youth Will Not Have Skills For 21st Century Jobs: UNICEF
https://thelogicalindian.com/news/indian-youth-lack-skills
Youth employment https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/youth-employment/lang--en/index.htm

48. Segun Ogunwale, The OpenFarm Network (Kominity Digital), Nigeria

The need for food security in a world with; a rapidly growing population, increasing age of Farmers in
developing countries, and the need for employment opportunities to provide economic opportunities for
Youths entering the labour force all establish a solid case for youth engagement in Agriculture and
employment in agriculture and food systems. Thus, this makes the development of this report more
relevant than ever.
Here are some notes on perspectives on the subject based on my experience in the developing world:
The declining interest of youths in agriculture is widely assumed or may be exaggerated.  Some relevant
datasets may need to evaluated to establish the validity of this assumption. Agriculture may have fallen in
the preference sectors for Youths to pursue a career, however, an enormous population of youths are still
interested in the sector - some out of passion and interest, while for others it is one of the most accessible
of their few career options. In 2017, the OpenFarm Network whose team I currently lead partnered with
the largest youth Agricultural training school in Nigeria (6 campuses nationwide). For years, applications to
its call for trainees have in multiples exceeded the available slots in the institute. Though it is targeted at
youths with a secondary school leaving certificates, a majority of the applicants have a first degree and
others have a second degree.
Openness to Careers in Agribusiness with Entrepreneurship as an Option. 
Though there has been a strong emphasis on entrepreneurship in recent years, which is commendable.
This is not necessarily the recommended first step for the majority of Youths in the Agri-food sector.
Several of the youths we interacted with at the training institute shared the intention of starting their own
Farms (note: less emphasis on Agribusiness) on graduation. Once things do not work as planned - this
becomes a big blow to several of them. Exploration of careers in the Agri-food sector offers a lower
hanging fruit. Several Agribusinesses need youths to join their workforce. Internships and Programmes
matching Youths to Agribusinesses can be established. This provides a springboard for several youths to
establish a career in Agribusiness or further pursue entrepreneurship having gained some experience.
Emphasis on the Agricultural Value Chain and the Opportunities it Offers. Not “Millionaire Farmers”. 
Though Agriculture is the one of the most inclusive sector in terms of employment opportunities, as it
becomes innovation-driven, it becomes less of a numbers game. To establish this point, compare the
percentage population of Farmers in the developed world and the developing world. Though the former is
far lesser, it remains incomparably more productive than that of the latter. This means there is a huge
opportunity for Youths to contribute to improving the productivity of the currently large but inefficient
population of Farmers by playing in other components of the value chain. Several nations need to go
further beyond the call for Youth participation to a call for innovative solutions in the Agri-food sector.
Though this is on the increase, there is a need to take these solutions beyond media-hype to the real-
world.
There is a need shift from Attracting Youths to Fostering the Success of Youths in Agribusiness by
Establishing Pathways for Growth.
On interacting with several trainees of this institution, I realized that though they were optimistic about
having their own farms and aware of their challenges, they seemed not to understand how to overcome
them. For example, we asked during a seminar how many of them knew about Agric insurance, less than
5% of the class had any idea. Though “Access to Information” seemed like a cliche to me due to its
repetition as a barrier to success, it’s a real challenge. A commendation digital initiative was USDA’s
Start2Farm to meet the information needs of new Agribusiness owners. This has since evolved to USDA
NewFarmers’ Portal. We also replicated some of these ideas at OpenFarm. Success evangelizes itself, the
more the barriers to success for youths in agriculture collapses and youths are successful in it, the more
attracted youths become to it in an age of information going “viral.”  As several initiatives focused on
attracting youths in the agricultural sector, there is also a clear need for initiatives to support the growth of
Youths in agribusinesses and the training of entry-level professionals in the Agri-food sector. Some of these
may be as simple as linkages to markets or complex as conditional-based access to resources such as
meeting milestones.
Reliance on Pull Approach over Push Approach to Development. 
As shared by Clayton Christensen et al in the Prosperity Paradox, established markets draw to itself
infrastructure. Nigeria’s Farm settlements were attempts to push infrastructure into rural areas to
encourage more farming activities. Unfortunately, most of these declined with the decline in the Nation’s
agricultural sector. Amenities for the improvement in the quality of living standards in rural areas can be
best accompanied by developments. They are more of results than attempts.
The Agri-Food Sector Needs to Learn from other Booming Sectors.
The Agri-food sector has been playing on the defensive in many countries in the recent decade. This has
made it heavily reliant on government policies. There is a need to go further by understanding and
tailoring agricultural interventions to how markets work. With youths marginalized in the governance of
countries, reliance on favourable government policies is not likely the best bet on the long-term. However,
the market in recent year is proving to be age and gender agnostic, and even breaking geographical
boundaries until the recent USA-China Trade wars. Youths need to be equipped with information and tools
to take advantage of markets.
Data Requirements for Supporting Policies
Some important datasets include the age and gender representation across the different activities of the
Agricultural and Food system value chain. Another phenomenon worthy of note is the seasonality of youth
engagement in the sector. In several agrarian states in Nigeria, youths go to the farm more actively during
land preparation and harvesting activities, while they engage in other daily income-generating activities in-
between. However, most of these data would be difficult to obtain in several developing countries and
there may need to rely on observations and interactions with actors.
Concluding Thoughts
Beyond advocacy to spur youth interest in Agriculture and food systems, fostering the success of Youths
irrespective of the gender difference should be of utmost report. This implies the need to extend beyond
Advocacy to interventions tailored to provide Advisory and Access for youths in Agribusiness. Hopefully,
the discourse would soon evolve into spreading the gains and ensuring quality assurance in an Agri-food
sector with an influx of Youths.
Some observations are not unique to the Agriculture and Food sector, but are more of fundamental
societal problems. It is therefore imperative not to be caught off trying to provide solutions to this
problem. Examples of this are waste discrepancy against women and the need for investments to improve
the quality of life in rural areas. Though it is noteworthy to factor this in and feature solutions, solutions for
Youths and Women on these issues in the Agric and food sector may be highly dependent on other factors
beyond the scope of the report.

49. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India

I suggest, Report should also address, Role of Social media in constructive engagement of youth
1. I published a blog, Youth and social media: A leverage for agripreneurship
https://ypard.net/2018-07-31/youth-and-social-media-leverage-agripreneurship
I believe, Social Media (SM) offer the potential to promote opportunities, and eventually facilitate positive
youth development. Considering the importance of social media among youth, it is critical to understand
how to use it as a tool to foster youth development. Social media is not just about “ posting cat videos”, it
also gives young farmers and entrepreneurs opportunities to promote their ideas or businesses online.
Social media presents an enormous opportunity for young entrepreneurs to continue finding creative ways
to build their brands, dynamically serve their clients, cultivate relationships with colleagues and
consumers, and explore new frontiers within this young digital society. The resources and platform it
provides enables young individuals to act entrepreneurially in a way that was recently not possible.

2. How digital apps and services are boosting rural employment

http://www.fao.org/fao-stories/article/en/c/1149534/
There are some new ways of working in agriculture that harnesses digital and technological innovations,
rendering it more efficient and, not as a small byproduct, providing new opportunities and services for
young entrepreneurs.
3.  Tata Consultancy Services completed a study “Social Media is Serious Business: A View from European
Youth” about social media usage across Europe, where they surveyed 5,000 young people from 15
countries. The results of the study and the #GenerationDirect campaign indicate that the importance of
social media among young (i.e., Millennial) entrepreneurs cannot be overstated. Thirty-three percent of
this group utilizes social media on a daily basis, with its uses ranging from hiring, client communication,
networking, collaboration and skill development. Specifically, 60% of young entrepreneurs indicate that
social media helps them find freelance employees, and 41% are in touch with their clients via social media
on a daily basis. Furthermore, 62% of the sample uses social media to grow their business network. In
essence, social media has become a fundamental aspect of growing and sustaining a business for
Millennial entrepreneurs. The emphasis on social media among young entrepreneurs reflects a larger
generational shift regarding the demographical makeup of the global workforce. Millennials (those born
between 1982-1994) will make up 75% of the world’s workers by the year 2025 and are considered ‘digital
natives’ as the first generation to come of age with the internet and smart phones. For this generation, the
use of social media is second nature and a natural part of their daily existence. Beyond their comfort level
with technology and their every-increasing presence at work, this generation has received wide spread
attention in popular media for their perceived workplace behavior, stereotypically being seen as a job-
hopping, entitled bunch.

Social media is making young people more entrepreneurial than ever

https://digitalempowers.com/social-media-making-young-people-entrepreneurial-ever/

50. Kim Conely, Nutritional Diversity, Panama

Please direct your attentioon tpo following next to complete program to return youth to
agriculture : Nutritional Diversity Revision III, 2020 
To: FAO
From: Nutritional Diversity, Biodiverse Food Study, Panama
Our group has been long time contributors to the hope and push for a saving of the ecology, and
alternative agriculture, better health through diverse organic systems.
Our groups passion is helping return young people to agriculture, and we are doing a great jonb, please
come see it, and maybe you can help us grow it.
That's what this all about right!
Thank you
Kim Conely
Intern @ Nutritional Diversity S,A,
Republic of Panama
 51. Walter Alberto Pengue, Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento, Argentina
Thank you very much for incorporate this relevant issue to the food system discussion. Youth people need
to be supported and find new ways to be establish in the field and the food system as a whole. 
I believe, by the way, that the role of new technologies and the relationship with new youth jobs in
agricultural sector and food systems is relevant.  The role of rural education and its relationship with
innovation and promotion activities involved with agroecological approach and new technical support is
relevant. 
Other issue is related with PERIURBAN AREAS, where poor people and youth people live. There, there is a
lot to study, understand and support. 
The relationship of agroecology, health food system and new roles for food promotion and consume must
to be study. 
The relation ship of agroecology, youth people and social and solidarity economy could offer a road to
reach to the SDGs in terms of erradicate poverty, food unsecurity, rural education, etc. 
Best
Dr. Ing. Agr. Walter A. Pengue
GEPAMA, Argentina
www.gepama.com.ar
www.walterpengue.com
 
PD: Attach, you will find a free book on AGROECOLOGY, ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH, that could be usefull
with some tips for the discussion for periurban areas of cities and towns. 
Attachment:
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/LIBRO
%20AGROECOLOGIA%20ESCUDO%20VERDE%20PENGUE%20FINAL%20NOV%2020%202018.pdf

52. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India

While supervising Master’s & Doctoral dissertations, viz.1. Determinants of rural youth participation in
farming (2014), 2. Participation of young women in agriculture: an analytical study of their involvement,
attitude and aspirations (2018), 3.Gender based differential access to information among livestock owners
and its impact on household milk production in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh (2006), 4. Gender
perspectives in dairy production system of Rajasthan (2014), I observed:
i. Agriculture is the least preferred career option among young, particularly women in India, ii. The
extension services need to be oriented to make them more responsive to younger generations of farmers
especially farm women which are currently paid least attention amongst all, iii. women’s formal
participation is very limited, often due to inherent gender bias coupled with lack of skills for skilled jobs, iv.
Women are poorly represented in skill trainings, meetings and events meant for capacity building
programmes undertaken by Research, Development & extension organizations, v. The long standing
gender inequality in matters of agricultural & rural transformation can be overcome through relevant
research by generating evidences towards developing right policies and programmes including extension
services, vi. Skilling rural women may improve their work profile leading to their visibility and productivity
in Indian agriculture, vii. Adult men often hold the title on land making them eligible for collateral/credit
from the financial institutions to take up commercial activities in rural areas, viii. Women are often ignored
by the financial institutions for the want of collaterals, ix. Limited association of farm women with formal
institutions further limit their access to information and knowledge needed to upgrade their status and
self-esteem, x. The All Women Dairy Cooperatives in India could improve their level of skills and social
prestige with economic empowerment, xi. Skilled women can contribute more meaningfully in agricultural
sector to bring about much needed rural transformation in India, xi. The extension services to be relevant
& sustainable have to consider the aspirations and needs of younger generation of farmers especially
young rural women.
We interviewed two hundred youth respondents from farming families of Kerala and Rajasthan in India, to
analyze their educational and occupational aspirations and the effect of socio-cultural and economic
factors on aspirations. The results revealed that only a small fraction of youth were interested in
agriculture and allied industries in both of these states.
Also, I published a blog," Women, livestock and fodder trees in Central Himalayas", which a kind of my
personal narration of women at my home, who face hardships in rearing animals.
Considering the importance of gender equality in matters of access to resources including farm trainings, I
wrote for GFAR, Gender Inclusive Capacity Building Programmes: We Know Gender Equality Matters.
I believe, this report should address issue of the safe Spaces for youth as well…
On 12th August, 2018, we celebrated International Day of Youth and I wrote about the event that took
place at my institute. The theme for International Youth Day 2018 was Safe Spaces for Youth. Youth need
safe spaces where they can come together, engage in activities related to their diverse needs and
interests, participate in decision making processes and freely express themselves.
Just one little effort from our part to be part of the effort to raise awareness on challenges and problems
facing the world’s youth, with energetic participation of about 85 boys and girls. Many of them had
complaints against their parents, teachers and friends for poor parenting, poor teaching and not being
helpful at the time of need. A few told they can do a lot better; they need just good support from their
families, teachers, friends and society at large. Some were apprehensive about their future just because
there were not enough government jobs to look towards. A few wanted early marriage but they can’t, just
because they don’t have a government job. We were surprised to know that many girls wanted to join
police force- to teach lessons to eve teasers. Their stories were reflective that eve-teasing remains one big
problem in this part of the world.
They loved to express themselves because they were offered a platform to do so. Often they lack
opportunities to share their free thoughts, ideas and creativity, they told. They loved it much that they got
the opportunity to celebrate a day meant for them and about them. Usually no one cares for their needs &
wants, only scolding’s of parents and teachers often they get, they are hardly heard by anybody, some
echoed. For many, it was their first opportunity to speak up what they think. It was really a very gratifying
for us that rural boys & girls could speak before an audience- the very first step to build up their
confidence and raise morale.
Can we provide such opportunities? We need more youth clubs, wherein, youth can unleash their
creativity and share their ideas. This report should address how best this can be done, & how fast?

53. Elena Sturchio, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), Department of

Technological Innovation, Italy
Share good practices and successful experiences to improve youth engagement in the governance of
agriculture and food systems.
In Italy, in recent years, the youth agricultural employment has significantly growing while unemployment
rates are increasing in the rest of the economic system. A framework that seems to support and
strengthen the idea of a renewed interest on the part of young people in the agricultural world and the
possibility of starting entrepreneurial activities or encourage the process of generational change in the
countryside. Both the European Union and Italy have provided specific measures for young people, as rural
development policy and, to a lesser extent, to national interventions, other additional payments to young
farmers, to be added to the basic payment.
According to The International Labour Organization (ILO), millions of agricultural workers are however
seriously injured in workplace accidents involving agricultural machinery or poisoned by pesticides and
other agrochemical. Agricultural mortality rates have remained consistently high in the last decade
compared with other sectors in which fatal accident rates have generally decreased.
Investment in safety meets a primary human, social and economic need. In addition to being a duty, it is
also a contribution to an effective system of social protection of work, the fundamental right of each
person and the heritage of the community. The agricultural, forestry and agri-food sectors are sectors with
a marked complexity, related to factors such as the onset of new risks, the impact of climate change,
modern technologies and new forms of work organisation. The economic support of the Italian Workers’
Compensation Authority (INAIL) is an opportunity for the productive world, because only through secure
work a competitive enterprise created could positively build up.
INAIL contribution for agriculture system by “ISI Call” aims to improve the conditions of workers in various
fields from health to safety. The incentives allocated for micro and small enterprises are 45 millions euros,
of which 40 for agricultural businesses in general and 5 for young farmers (also organized in the form of a
company). More specifically, the call encourage the purchase of new work equipment, particularly
machinery and innovative tools in order to reduce polluting emissions, production costs and optimize the
performance, safety and productivity. 
https://www.inail.it/cs/internet/attivita/prevenzione-e-sicurezza/agevolazioni-e-finanziamenti/incentivi-
alle-imprese/bando-isi-2019.html
The aim of the "ISI Call" is to give a new life to the agricultural sector and promote the creation of new
businesses in the area, with a particular attention to environmental sustainability, the reduction of
emissions and noise from the machinery and, finally, the possible "conversion" of agricultural production.
Accelerated investment in sustainable agriculture and food systems, and in rural people is a proven
accelerator of sustainable development that helps countries to address global changes and realize multiple
Sustainable Development Goals SDGs: as ending extreme poverty, hunger and malnutrition and promoting
sustainable management of natural resources.
See attached file: "Good practices and successful experiences to improve youth engagement in the
governance of agriculture and food systems".
Attachment:
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/Good
%20practices.docx

54. Emadeldin Mahgoub, Agricultural Research Corporation, Sudan

Rooted in sustainability, agroecology can be expressed as the “ecology of the food system” [4]. It has the
explicit goal of transforming food systems towards sustainability by supporting a balance between
ecological soundness, economic viability and social adherence [2]. Agroecology applies ecological concepts
and principles to optimize interactions between plants, animals, humans and the environment while taking
into consideration social aspects required for a sustainable and fair food system. It helps to build a greater
resilience of ecosystem services and contributes to environmental rehabilitation of land, water systems,
increase nutritional diversity, and overall human health. It relies on biodiversity (e.g. nutrient cycling, biotic
pollination, natural pest control, locally adapted genetics) rather than external inputs like synthetic
fertilizers, pesticides, and imported concentrate feed. It is highly knowledge- intensive, builds upon
farmers’ collective knowledge and innovations, making it particularly attractive for rural and urban youth.
With an emphasis on the importance of social equity such as job creation and gender considerations,
agroecology also promotes shorter value chains and encourages direct consumer-producer exchanges.
 Agroecology is seen as a promising approach for the transformational change to sustainable food and
agricultural systems.
with all the best
Emadeldin Mahgoub, Sudan

55. André Luzzi, Brazil

Estimadx,
Presento algunas sugerencias de las publicaciones sobre temas relacionados con los jóvenes y  fuentes de
información.
También envío extractos de la ley que creó el Estatuto de la Juventud en Brasil que establece derechos y
políticas para los jóvenes, y la creación del Sistema Nacional de la Juventud y el Consejo Nacional de la
Juventud.
Lamentablemente, Alimentación y Agricultura no es un capítulo específico. 
Aun así, seleccioné aspectos del trabajo en el campo y en la ciudad, apoyo para el emprendimiento y el
medio ambiente. 
Saludos,
André Luzzi 
Attachments:
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/Estatuto%20Juventud
%20.doc
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/Referencias
%20bibliogr%C3%A1ficas%20y%20fuentes%20de%20informaci%C3%B3n.doc

56. Ileana Grandelis, FAO, Italy

Comments on the objectives and content :
The objectives and scope of the report seem adequate and respond well to the need to better understand
the engagement and employment potential of youth in agriculture and food systems. It is positively
noticed that both aspects of employment quantity and quality are taken into account. Improved working
conditions are crucial to supporting the well-being and long-term productive potential of young workers,
and are also key determinants of how attractive agricultural work is to young farmers and agro-
entrepreneurs.
Suggestions are:
 to avoid focusing too much on the challenges, which have already been overanalyzed in several
reports, and more on the opportunities that the literature has pointed towards (and related support
systems needed);
 to avoid limiting the analysis to agriculture only, for which more information is probably
available, and really expand to food systems and the opportunities and role that youth might have
within them (including by pointing to eventual data gaps to fully appreciate the current role of youth in
agri-food systems);
 to assess the extent of the effort conducted so far by the development community to identify
youth and employment-centred pathways for agri-food system development, which would include for
instance more inclusive agribusiness development and business models, sustainable food value chain
development, increasing responsible investments but in particular a dedicated effort to better
 understand the role of different categories of youth in the agri-food system, their challenges and
aspirations, the current employment potential and the new opportunities that could be identified to
create new jobs or improve the quality of existing jobs;
 to look into the specific needs of specific categories of youth, in addition to young women,
namely: younger youth (below 18 but already having reached the legal age to work and certainly to
engage, so 15 plus), indigenous youth. highly educated youth (ex. those that may be able to benefit
from university-based agriculture incubation programmes) vs more vulnerable and less educated youth
(and among them distinguishing between the majority of the very vulnerable/poor/unemployed youth
and young people from rural areas that are already active in agriculture for instance and that without
being already Agripreneurs can find relevant opportunities in agriculture and food systems and, because
of proximity, contribute to also support their most vulnerable peers);
 to point towards specific data gaps and expected progress. It is well known that there is limited
availability of data on employment and decent work aspects in rural areas. Specific rural employment
surveys are scarce in most low-income countries and in developing countries in general. Most of the
data available on rural employment come from population censuses, which are low frequency; labour
force surveys, which are relatively scarce; and – in the absence of these sources – household budget
surveys, which collect only limited basic information on employment. Similarly, agricultural surveys
essentially focus on production and land, and not all countries collect information on labour. The nature
of rural labour markets – and of agricultural work in particular – gives rise to specific challenges, notably
a shortage of reliable information and data in various areas: Rural work tends to be informal, precarious,
casual and/or seasonal, and workers often hold multiple jobs, undertaking both farm and non-farm
activities throughout the year. In such contexts, information on returns to labour (whether self- or wage
employment, underemployment, and shares of paid/unpaid work) is largely missing, especially for small-
scale agriculture; Job quality is not easy to measure precisely and data are not adequately captured. As a
result, there is little information available on: underutilization of skills, multiple job-holding and
excessive hours of work, informal recruitment practices and networks, and gender and age inequalities
in the rural labour market; OSH; and other related quality aspects (e.g. access to social protection and
social dialogue). Finally, there is a lack of information on specific issues, such as rural migrants and
migration flows, occupational mobility, rural women and youth’s time use, child labour, assets’
ownership and control of resources. While the past two decades have seen some progress in the
collection of rural labour data, especially in terms of sex and age disaggregated data in agriculture, there
are still many gaps. (source: FAO, 2016. http://www.fao.org/3/a-i5471e.pdf). While the above is rather
known, it would be interesting to assess the expected improvements linked to the SDG measurement
for instance and which areas should be further prioritized for addressing major knowledge gaps in this
area. As a concrete example, FAO is currently conducting youth-centred value chain assessments (pilots
already concluded in Uganda and Kenya) and will develop a corresponding guidance document, with the
objective of assessing the specific role of youth in a given value chain, their employment conditions and
identify concrete new opportunities along the different nodes of the value chain. Similarly, FAO has
initiated a set of studies of assessment of youth access to agricultural finance (first study conducted in
Uganda, to be published before the end of February).

Good practices and successful experiences:

See information collected by the recently launched Decent Jobs for Youth Knowledge Facility: Learning,
sharing, and engaging (includes data, guidance materials, success stories)
Several reports, policy and programmatic documents are also collected and briefly analyzed in  FAO Decent
Rural Employment database, which includes specific tags for youth.
The CFS Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems represent a good practice
in terms of attention to youth and decent work aspects in voluntary guidelines. See lessons learnt from 6
African countries.
Some successful experiences have been generated through the FAO Integrated Country Approach
programme for boosting decent jobs for youth in the agri-food system. The ICA programme has also
developed Context Analysis for Uganda, Kenya, and Senegal, while Rwanda and Guatemala will be online
by February 2020. An example of succesful approach is the Youth Inspiring Youth in Agriculture Initiative
(YIYA) conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture (MAAIF) in Uganda with FAO support in 2017, as a
mechanism to identify Youth Champions for Decent Work in Agriculture in order to give visibility to their
role in the agri-food system, but also to partner with them in mentoring and providing engagement/work
opportunities to other more vulnerable youth in their communities.(additional information can be
provided on this specific initiative, since it has been evaluated in 2019 for it to be
institutionalized/replicated in Uganda in 2020). Other ICA-related good practices and lessons learnt are
summarized at: http://www.fao.org/3/CA2165EN/ca2165en.pdf

A successful process supported by FAO to improve youth engagement in the governance of agriculture and
food systems is the establishment of the Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum (RYAF). Through the TCP
“Strengthening youth roles and access in the Agricultural sector in Rwanda” (TCP/RWA/3601/C1, 2017-
2018), the Organization supported the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) in the
establishment of the RYAF, a platform that brings together different youth organizations, individual youth
farmers and entrepreneurs in agriculture. For the establishment of the RYAF, MINAGRI was awarded this
year’s Edouard Saouma Award, for outstanding efforts in involving youth in Rwanda’s agriculture
transformation.

At the regional level, in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), the development of the  Plan de Acción
Regional dirigido a la Juventud Rural en los países del SICA can be seen as a successful process for youth-
inclusive policy dialogue. More info at: 
http://www.fao.org/americas/noticias/ver/es/c/1043402/; http://www.cac.int/node/271 Similar plans
and strategies have been supported through participatory dialogues in several countries such as the
National Strategy for Youth Employment in Agriculture in Uganda (NSYEA) (for which a youth-inclusive and
very active technical working group is currently monitoring implementation and in the process of building
a baseline mapping) or the Kenya Youth Agribusiness Strategy. The issue of programmatic coordination in
implementation remains however a challenge.

Other success story are collected in the publications: FAO, 2014. Youth and Agriculture: Key Challenges and
Concrete Solutions  ; FAO. 2019. Youth in motion for climate action! - A compilation of youth initiatives in
agriculture to address the impacts of climate change.

Suggested references:

Global
FAO, 2014. Youth and Agriculture: Key Challenges and Concrete Solutions
FAO, 2018. FAO's Integrated Country Approach (ICA) for promoting decent rural employment. Results and
stories from the field
FAO. 2019. Youth in motion for climate action! - A compilation of youth initiatives in agriculture to address
the impacts of climate change. Rome
IFPRI, 2019. Youth and jobs in rural Africa: Beyond stylized facts
IFAD, 2019. Rural development report. Creating opportunities for rural youth and related background
papers
OECD, 2018. The future of rural youth in developing countries

Africa
FAO, 2019. Kigali Conference report. Youth Employment In Agriculture as a Solid Solution to ending Hunger
and Poverty in Africa: “Engaging through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and
Entrepreneurship (uploaded)
FAO, 2019. Agripreneurship across Africa. Stories of inspiration
FSN forum report, 2018. Youth employment in agriculture as a solid solution to ending hunger and poverty
in Africa
WB, 2014. Youth Employment in Sub-Saharan Africa
OECD, 2018. Agriculture, food and jobs in West Africa. More info at: Allen, T., P. Heinrigs and I. Heo (2018),
“Agriculture, food and jobs in West Africa”, West African Papers, N°14, OECD Publishing, Paris.
Latin America and the Caribbean
2016, Juventud rural y empleo decente en América Latina
Multiple publications from RIMISP on the topic at https://rimisp.org/publicaciones-documentos
CEPAL, 2019, Situación de las juventudes rurales en América Latina y el Caribe

57. Amadou Tall, TA PESCAO/ECOWAS, Nigeria

Dear Sir,
Please find attached a copy of my paper on youth employability in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
Amadou
Attachment:
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-
hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/20200116_employabilite%20des%20jeunes%20dans
%20le%20secteur%20des%20peches%20et%20de%20l%27aquaculture.pdf

58. Olga Pashkevich, Insitute of System Researches in Agro-Industrial Complex of the

National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Belarus
Youth Engagement in Agriculture – Challenges and Perspectives (the case of Belarus)
Agriculture in Belarus is composed of more than one thousand large-scale agricultural enterprises, in which
there are more than 290 thousand workplaces. Large-scale collective forms of work organization are the
main agricultural producers in the country. Agricultural organizations produce 79.1 % of agricultural
output; private (peasant) farms – 2.2 % and households – 18.7 % respectively. The main resource in
agriculture is land. In Belarus it became constitutionally owned in 1996 by the state. Agricultural
organizations received free permanent farmland use.
The wage conditions of young people working in agricultural enterprises do not meet their human
capacities. Therefore, a critical problem arises in agriculture – the increase in labour turnover, which
reaches up to 30 %. It is particularly high among young people. Attempts to solve administrative measures
have not been successful. Urban areas (cities and towns) are the economic, educational and cultural
centers and they attract young people who are not very interested be involved in agriculture. In addition,
in cost-effective agricultural enterprises, technical and technological modernization has led to the release
of surplus workers. This requires solving their employment.
Stimulating entrepreneurial initiative and business activity through the involvement of young people in
agribusiness should be a means of increasing the attractiveness of work and living in rural areas. Small
agribusiness should be developed along with large-scale agricultural production with specialization in
sheep farming, poultry farming, beekeeping, growing vegetables, fruits, berries, flowers, etc. In addition,
there can be alternative sources of employment and income: rural tourism, creation of family estates,
farmsteads and handicraft development.
The revitalization of the population in starting a business, the increase in the number of entrepreneurs can
be facilitated by: changes in tax legislation (simplification), tax benefits (concessions), business training, the
availability of start-up capital, as well as improving the living standards of the population and the
purchasing power of the population.
According to the State program of revival and rural development for 2005–2010, on the basis of Village
Councils and central estates of large commodity agricultural organizations for the period 2005–2010
1481 agro-towns were formed. Agro-towns belong to the category of rural settlements along with villages
and hamlets and represent an equipped settlement in which production and social infrastructures are
created to ensure social standards for the population living in it and the inhabitants of the adjacent
territories.
However, the lack of opportunities for cultural development and leisure activities is the reason for
the youth’s unwillingness to live and work in rural areas. This actualizes the problem of improving the
cultural infrastructure of the rural areas, the search for tools to increase attention to cultural heritage and
unique features of the territory, forms of inhabitants’ inclusion in the processes of socio-cultural territory
development. In addition, this requires the development of rural areas marketing, the formation of a
cultural brand as a resource for increasing the competitiveness of rural areas.
The strategic goal of sustainable development of the Republic of Belarus until 2030 is to ensure high living
standards of the population and conditions for the harmonious development of the individual based on
the transition to a highly efficient economy based on knowledge and innovation, while maintaining a
favorable environment for future generations. Achieving this goal provides for a number of activities aimed
at improving the quality of life in rural areas and increasing the level of well-being of rural residents.
Among these are the improvement of social standards, which provide for an increase in the quality of
medical and personal services, the development of trade and road networks, educational institutions, etc.
Many steps have been taken to implement social standards in rural areas. However, this is still not enough
to stop such adverse social processes in the rural areas as the deterioration of the demographic situation,
caused not only by the lack of birth rates, but also by the migration outflow of the working-age part of the
rural population, especially youth and young women, and the decline in the quality of human potential in
rural areas. The reason is the inefficient form of rural employment, the lack of high-performance
workplaces in agricultural organizations, which leads to low purchasing power of rural residents and, as a
result, a reduction in demand for social (household, medical, commercial, housing and communal services,
ICT and other) services. This, in turn, is the reason that holds back the development of business and
entrepreneurial initiatives in rural areas. This problem requires the development and implementation of a
set of measures aimed at increasing the efficiency of the economy in rural areas, which will contribute to
increasing the comfort and prestige of living in rural areas and, therefore, actualizing the need for intensive
development of the social infrastructure.
Thus, the problem of youth engagement in agriculture needs to be addressed comprehensively. Effective
youth employment should be accompanied by improved living conditions in rural areas. The following
means can solve this problem: first of all, to promote rural way of life; secondly, to implement high
standards of living in rural areas; thirdly, to enhance the prestige of agricultural labour, to improve
competitiveness of agricultural specialists.
Olga Pashkevich, Institute of System Researches in Agro-Industrial Complex of the National Academy of
Sciences of Belarus, Minsk, Republic of Belarus 
For more information please see the link:
Olga Pashkevich, THE ROLE OF YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE OF BELARUS. In: FSN Forum in Europe and Central
Asia, part of the Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition. CONSULTATION 25.04.2016 – 15.05.2016
Youth – feeding the future. Addressing the challenges faced by rural youth aged 15 to 17 in preparing for
and accessing decent work URL:
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/eca/activities/discussions/rural-youth-employment-15to17?page=1
 59. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India
Here is my own personal story...
I grew up in a small scale farmer’s family in 1970s, just like over 3/4th of the youth who live in rural areas
of developing countries, mostly sustaining on agriculture.
My parents would do all farming activities, hardly discussing with me any issues concerning agriculture.
They would neither ask me to join in their day to day work nor teach me about crops being grown,
harvested and sold. Growing up there was no role for me in my household as far as farming was
concerned. I was thus, totally detached from the farming activities and was just concentrating on my
studies. Maybe my parents realized farming is not lucrative enough and I must focus on my studies to do
something better than farming. Or maybe it is because I used to see my parents toiling hard and clearly it
was a back breaking vocation for small-scale farmers like my parents then and still it is almost the same
hard work now. I had no way to reduce their drudgery. I did not have any ideas on how to help them and
maybe even no motivation to contribute to farming. Unfortunately, the scenario has not changed much,
when I see young people in my village.
Unlike many of my friends and contemporaries in my village, I was lucky to get admission in one of the
premeir Agricultural universities-the Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology,
Pantnagar, where I graduated in Agriculture in 1984. Now I am not only holding a PhD degree in Extension
Education but also serving as an Agricultural Extension Education scientist with Indian Council of
Agricultural Research. I know it very well and it’s sad to say; only a few have been as lucky as me. The rest
have to spend their lives farming or migrate to cities searching for jobs, which again is not so easy.
Many years after growing up in an environment where agriculture is not seen as an important career for
young people, I realize that the potential youth groups are largely ignored in policies and programs leading
to disenchantment among them for agriculture. What is there for youth that they will love doing
agriculture? This is an important question and unless we work on providing skills to young people in
agriculture, give them the voice at the policy level, and in the media, and encourage them through
meaningful programs they will not feel this passion and love for agriculture. The Extension and Advisory
Services (EAS) must engage young people in innovations and entrepreneurial activities or else they will
continue migrating to cities in search of better options for living. The way agriculture is being practiced, at
least in developing countries like India, lack glamour, and this is the hard truth.
I feel the Extension and Advisory Services (EAS) professionals too are responsible for making agriculture
less attractive to youth. In our surveys of farmers, almost every time we make the head of the households
as respondents, and we ignore the potential future farmers- the young ones in the family. The financial
services also do not consider youth for financing agriventures, for the want of collaterals as often youth
lack ownership of land. The elders in the family hardly take suggestions from youth on what to grow and
how to do farming- youth are not taken seriously anywhere. Also, the EAS contact the eldest in the family
and mostly men, to interact on farming matters, while the older farmers are less likely to accept new
ideas.  It is our mindset which is eschewed in favor of adults preferably males. This way of thinking needs
to be changed and the sooner the better.
The EAS has a crucial role to play here by targeting youth, engaging them to make farming a profitable and
attractive venture as I wrote once, Agricultural extension services should tap the energy and creativity of
rural youth to transform agricultural sector.
To read further, pl visit my blog published by YPARD:
The Extension and Advisory Services (EAS) shouldn’t ignore youth, anymore!
https://ypard.net/testimonials/extension-and-advisory-services-eas-shouldn%E2%80%99t-ignore-youth-
anymore
 60. Rodrigo Mota, World Food Programme - WFP Youth Network, WFP
Feedback provided on behalf of the WFP Youth Network

At WFP, we believe that the proposed outline of the report on ‘Promoting youth engagement and
employment in agriculture and food systems’ is a great attempt to address one of the most overlooked
areas in the food security and nutrition discussion: the impact of broken food systems and agriculture on
youth.
However, when discussing agriculture and food systems, we also believe that it is imperative to move away
from a purely economic cost-benefit analysis and start considering many other important variables to the
discussion. One of them has to do with the significant effects on the household food security and nutrition
status of affected population groups in contexts of conflict or crisis settings and complex emergencies.
It is easy to forget that in this context those most affected include vast numbers of children, widows,
women headed households and youth, many of whom have disabilities or were great contributors to their
local economies and food systems. It is well known the role played by youth in the strengthening of local
capacities to address household food security and nutrition issues and presenting solutions or coping
mechanisms to reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience.
In addition, the approach of any food systems analysis should also include the importance of food
assistance support programmes such as food stamp offices, schools’ subsidized meal programs, and any
other municipal and county level food assistance programs. For many children and youth in crisis-affected
contexts, a meal at school or food assistance kit is the only way to survive in a context where local markets
or any other food system component does not exist anymore.
Therefore, suggestions are as follows:
 To include a section that explores the linkage between agriculture and food systems in the context
of complex emergencies, and the impact of this on young population. This might offer another layer
of analysis when the discussion about challenges that youth might face is presented. When taken
into account other realities that exist in a more restricted context, such as the one of an emergency,
the report can explore solutions about how to better prepare and strengthen food systems in crisis-
settings.
 To highlight the importance of the food assistance in complex emergencies, and how organisations
whose mandate is to fight against hunger have prepared youth to face such challenges.
 To broaden the discussion about impact on youth, also incorporating a more gender-sensitive
approach, taking into account the role of young girls and women in countries affected by conflicts
and natural disasters. Also, it should be noted the impact of broken and dysfunctional food systems
on smallholders farmers, many of whom are young leaders.
With the recently launched WFP Youth Network, WFP is seeking to enhance this discussion through and
within a group of young colleagues that is spread in more than 80 countries, and has helped the
organisation to continue its fundamental work of saving lives and changing lives.

61. Sine Gyrup, ECLT Foundation, Switzerland

Dear Sir/Madam,
Please find enclosed an example of a best practice model aiming at facilitating the education-to-labour
market transition and youth recruitment and retention in agriculture and food systems, providing them
with market-driven skills through vocational training and arranged subsidized internships.
If you have further questions or need additional information on the model, you are more than welcome to
reach out to me.
Sine Gyrup
Attachments:
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/FAO%20consultation
%20final.pdf
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/2020-Guatemala-
Conference%20and%20success%20story%20fact%20sheet.pdf

62. Policarpo Tamele, Entrepreneurship Development Agency, Mozambique

For the case of Mozambique with around 28 million inhabitants, in which around 80% have agriculture as
their source of income and subsistence. On the other hand, Mozambique has a young population,
approximately 60%.
The state must maintain the role of deferring development policies, regulating and supervising economic
activity.
For a better engagement of empowerment of young people and women in agricultural activity, it is
necessary to create active policies and instruments that entice the younger layers to look at agriculture as
a source of employment, income and wealth generation, with a strong investment in development through
incentives and stimuli. 
The agricultural value chain has several employability opportunities for young people, sharing information
and opportunities is enough.
Attachment:
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/ADE_slides_
%20INGLES.pdf

63. Dramane Tounkara, Réseau Mondial des Jeunes Innovateurs, Mali

Bonjour,
Je suis Dramane TOUNKARA, Coordinateur National GYIN-Mali, le Réseau Mondial des Jeunes Innovateurs
travaillant dans l'accompagnement des jeunes par incubation dans l'agroalimentaire.
L'implantation des jeunes dans le secteur Agricole en Afrique me paraît un slogan plutôt qu'une
opportunité. En ce sens que la plupart de nos pays manquent de volonté politique pour offrir un
environnement favorable à la création d'emplois pour les jeunes dans le secteur. Premièrement, les jeunes
n'ont pas d'accès à la terre pour leurs activités que ça soit dans la production ou dans la transformation.
Deuxièmement, les jeunes n'ont pas, il existe très peu d'infrastructures pour la formation des jeunes dans
le Agricole. Troisièmement, les jeunes n'ont pas accès au financement pour l'acquisition des équipements :
production, transformation, commercialisation, etc. Quatrièmement, les marchés sont défavorables aux
jeunes agripreneurs qui font face à la concurrence déloyale de l'exportation. Cinquième et enfin, nos États
n'encourage pas la consommation locale qui permet aux entreprises d'acquérir du marché et accroître leur
production.

64. Parasuraman Nagappan, M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, India

Dear Sir/Madam
I am enclosing my Paper on "Youth In Indian Agriculture". also one more paper on "Youth and Sustainable
Development , Agriculture Food and Nutritional and Livelihoods Security"
I am very happy to send this two paper.
Regards,
Dr.N.Parasuraman
Attachments :
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/Youth%20and
%20Indian%20Agriculture_0.docx
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/Youth%20and
%20Sustainable%20%20Developmen%20%28one%29.docx

65. Rosemary Olive Mbone Enie, Sustainable Village Resources (SVR) Kenya, Kenya
Hello Friends,
My name is Rosemary Olive Mbone Enie. I am a Geologist, Environmentalist, Eco-community Builder,
Gender and Childhood Ambassador. I serve as the International Coordinator for Sustainable Village
Resources (SVR) Kenya since July 2019. We are promoting Food Self-sufficiency, Nutrition Security and
Sustainable Agriculture in East African Schools and Communities. One of our Flagship project is 'Connecting
East African Classrooms through Permaculture'. We want to pass the skills through Secondary and High
School Students who would take to their homes and communities. One of our model schools is the
Misemwa Secondary School at Bikeke Village, Kitale, Trans Nzoia County Kenya East Africa. We shall have
been happy to network and collaborate with other participants.

66. Hamish Rennie, Lincoln University, New Zealand

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this significant issue. I am an Associate Professor in the
Department of Environmenal Management at Lincoln University (New Zealand) which is one of the oldest
agriculture tertiary institutions in the British commonwealth. We pride ourselves on producing young
farmers and associated land based industries (including planning landscape architecture and tourism)

While the approach to your report is generally sound and approipriately emphasises developing country
rurality and farming, I consider that there are three matters that need to be brought into the framework of
the discussion that are currently missing entirely or are very lightly touched on: the biophysical
environment and related perceptions of the food production systems; issues facing developed country
food production systems; and the labour linkages between developing and developed country food
production systems.  I also wish to share a couple of attempts being made in New Zealand to address these
issues, I suspect they are not unique.

1. Environmental issues: In New Zealand the adverse effects ot our water quality and quantity caused by
farm production systems has become a major political issue that no party can ignore. As significantly, the
campaigns (such as the dirty dairying campaign ) to raise the nation's awareness of the damage being done
by rapid expansion of dairying and irrigation to our rivers and freshwater aquifers has created a stigma
around dairy farming (our major export earner) (Holland 2014) that has reached the point where some of
our highly successful dairy farmers are embarrassed to say what they do for a living when at socila events.
The negative image of farming appears to be a factor in youth not wishing to venture into this area. This is
now receiving added impetus by the accepted threat of climate change and the contirbution our
agriculture industry (through methane producing animas) is having on climate. Added to this is the
increasing level of stress and the associated high suicide rate of farmers (Holland 2013).   Additional stress
is beign created by environmental constraints to farming in an attempt to save and restore the freshwater
resources . All in all farming does not have an attractive image for youth.

Response: In attempts to redress this image the Dairy industry has made a number of
environmentally positive TV advertisements of environmentally friendly farming usually featuring younger
farmers and farming familiies, and holds nationally advertised open days when people can come and visit
(carefully selected) farms. It and the farming sector generally has emphasised the need for
environmental management of farm land as part of being a 'good farmer' and consider peer pressure has
moved from being about being the 'highest producer' to being the 'best land/water/biodiveristy  manager'
while still being profitable.  National industry awards for most environmentally friendly farmer of the year
receive wide publicity and advertorial boosting. Environmentally friendly ceriuficaiton schemes like the one
run by Waitrose are promoted and in one region the local authority charged with environmental
managment (Waikato regional council) operates a 'green tick' certification that was developed in concert
with farmers.  The farming industry has joined with local government on collaboratively developing
environmental planning rules and software (eg Overseer) to help calculate the acceptable loss of nutrients
to groundwater and rivers.  The fencing off of rivers and associated replanting with indigneous biodiversity
for habitat restoration and protection of water from overland runoff of nutrients and sediment are now
commonly required and research has shown these are having an effect on water quality (see for instance
Collins et al 2013).  Biodiversity management plans and Green house gas modelling at the individual farm
scale are in the pipeline  (these are for farms of 20ha or more usually, but also as small as 10ha in some
places, including my own smallholding sheep and crop farm).  A problem with these environmental
requirements, as noted above, is the financial and time pressure they place on farmers and the associated
stress. While large corporate farms can cope and thrive, the smaller scale farmers are struggling and this
appears to be adverselky affecting the interest of their children in farming - better incomes in less stressful
urban jobs (where the adverse environmental effects are played down) beckon.  This environmental image
isue is a major problem for attracting youth ot farming.

2) Developed country issue: The increased mechanisation and high technological nature of farming and its
efect on job creation in developed countries was identified two decades ago by our then Prime Minister
Helen Clark in a speech on future employment where she labelled Farming as a 'Sunset industry' - this
caused huge furore and anger largely because the context in which she was speaking  (the future for
growth in employment) was overlooked.  However, the issue holds true that high mechanisation and high
tech have changed the nature of work and reduced the need for labour.  While on the one hand this is
positive, on the other it means that there are not the same openings for people to enter the industry,
without a good education and technical skills.  Consequently we have seen a big increase in courses
devoted to food science - testing the quality and safety of food and ways to innovatively use or develop
new food products and meet or create new market demand. This is shifting the area for talented youth
away from the field and into the laboratory - our Masters in Food science and Innovation have rapidly
grown with large numbers of students from developing countries.  This points also to the higher demands
from developed country consumers for high quality environmentally friendly food - this is something I
believe developing countries need to recognise and plan for - their growing middle classes will demand
quality also and so in encouraging youth into agriculture or finding employment for youth in food
production this is an area that will grow, but possibly at the expense of having jobs for the poorly
educated.

Response: As noted, Lincoln University has developed new Masters degrees and programmes, but we are
also actively involved in partnering with Universities in other countries to build their in country expertise.  
Locally, Lincoln University has established partnerships with a number of high schools and some primary
schools to support agricultural programmes and school farms with advice and educational support.
Although I have seen no analyses i feel that this approach is helping make farming seem more attractive to
youth. We have also established a Childrens university to draw in young primary school childrent to the
university and aid them in understanding scentific approaches to manaigng land and the environment.  
This is in its early stages and we have yet to see the outcomes. We have also established an
interdisciplinary first year course LINC 101 that is designed to introduce all our students to the integrated
systems approach to food production, environmental management and the lifestyles we wish to lead (eg
recreation and tourism).  Farms are also diversifying their incme sources to incldue tourism activities which
offer a different and more socially accpetable future for farming operations that we expect may help retain
youth on farms and make farming more understood by non-farmers (again no analyses to support my
feelings for how this is working).

3) Labour linkages: This is moving somewhat outside my area of expertise, but simply noting that the role
of using migrant farm worker labour with developing country people working seasonally on developed
country farms, orchards etc is significant in the South East Pacific region. Domestic labour is insufficient to
harvest orchard and horticultural crops in New Zealand and this shortfall is being met by temporary
migrant labour from the Pacific Islands.  I think the implications of this are quite variable and worthy of
further investigation - does it lead to a transfer of farm knowledge appropriate to home country settings?
Does it lead to farming being a more attractive industry if you know you can spend part of your time in a
devleoped country earning more money to support your home farming family and rural community? or is
it leading to false expectations, labour exploitation, lower labour wages (in the developed country due to
the ability to use migants to avoid paying wages at a level that would  attract the local youth back)?
Someone may have investigated this already, but I think it warrants inclusion in your considerations.

Wishing you the best

Hamish Rennie

References:

Collins, K.E.; Doscher C.; Rennie, H.G.; and J.G. Ross 2013 “The effectiveness of riparian ‘restoration’ on
water quality – a case study of lowland streams in Canterbury, New Zealand” Restoration Ecology  21(1):40-
48

Holland, P. (2013) Why New Zealand dairy farms are not socially sustainable Lincoln Planning Review 5(1-
2): 43-47

Holland, P. (2014) The Dirty Dairying Campaign and the Clean Streams Accord Lincoln Planning Review 6(1-
2): 63-69.

67. Olusola Ekundayo, Cameroon

Hello, 
Many thanks for the opportunity to contribute to this crucial topic. I would like to share a piece of my work
with you. I believe it would serve well a great input into this discussion and documentation. Kindly see the
link below.
ROLES OF YOUTH IN AGRICULTURAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/roles-youth-agricultural-economic-development-ekundayo-olusola
Thank you all. 
 68. Francis Obonyo Alphonse, Uganda
Hello, thank you for the opportunity to take part in this very important issue. I am a lawyer and
Programme Officer at the Centre for Public Interest Law, Uganda.
I will make my comments focusing on development in the developing world and its impact on agriculture. 
The definition of developments which is drilled in our minds ( developing countries) right from childhood is
infrastructure development involving cutting down of trees for concrete industries. Similarly, the definition
of a successful person has been tagged to sitting behind a desk in an office and monthly salary. with
regards to nutrition, quick and simple meals in the form of fast foods have taken over the old fashioned
meals prepared with little or no chemical composition and you can't blame the consumer because the job
behind the desk has set the time for meals hence bad nutrition.
If we are to get youth interested in agriculture we need to redefine the meaning of development to
remove the assumption that a developed country should have all concrete walls with industries as the only
forms of employment. It is no doubt a contributing factor but its success is too exaggerated because its
strength is also its weakness, technological advancements which destroy the very reason the industries
were embraced in the first place, employment and high-quality produce today infested with genetically
modified organisms.
The fact that world all over the definition of success is about someone with an office with a six-figure salary
at the end of the month has greatly demoralised the young people to get involved in agriculture. No one
young person wants to get involved in a dying trade now that we have genetically modified foods. 
The need for youth engagement in agriculture is highly welcomed and embraced by everyone for it will
help the youth but the shortfall arises in the implementation of the policies and programs put in place. For
the case of Uganda, the shadows of corruption, abuse of office, exploitation of youth efforts, levy of unfair
taxes come to light in form of limited or no youth representation in the policymaking process, rigidity in
the legal reform and weak second to non-implementation of existing policies defeats the whole point of
trying to encourage youth involvement in agriculture. 
The smallholder farms suffer because of land grabbing backed by compulsory land acquisition legislation
with little or no compensation in the name of public interest branded investment to create jobs which
eventually don't last because of technological advancements.
In order to reignite youth involvement in agriculture, we need to first start by adding weight to it in the
form of gazetting its practice, protecting the existing farmers from anti-agriculture initiatives. 
As a smallholder rice farmer, I have on several occasions been discouraged from continuing to be a farmer
because of the high taxes both direct and direct, the competition with imported processed foods,  limited
capital to expand and land grabbing for industrialisation by government and the corrupt officials who want
bribes even when I have committed no wrong. 
On the farm, we only use a truck for clearing and the rest of the work is by local community members
80% of whom are women and stay home mothers. But paying them becomes a problem when the market
becomes flooded with imported produce and often we have to reduce the prices to bee able to sell
I believe youth can be more involved in agriculture if they are shown how profitable it can be and when
government protects smallholder farmers by not taking their land, providing incentives in the form of
credit facilities and empowerment programs
Thanks
 69. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India
The report can benefit from good practices and successful experiences from across the world, especailly
from developing countries, that are  improving youth engagement. I am impressed by the ADB supported
youth  training programme in Bangaldesh.
ADB is training half a million youngsters in Bangladesh for employment, so far, 260,000 young people have
been trained with new skills in 10 high priority areas, including the booming garments industry. Every year
2 million youths enter the job market in Bangladesh – ADB is training half a million of them with the skills
needed to succeed in the workplace. With a well-trained workforce, Bangladesh aspire  to transition to a
developed country.
https://www.adb.org/news/videos/new-skills-better-future-bangladesh
Many developing countries have youth skilling programmes, some are very successful, which could offer
some insights for furhter finetuning and upscaling.
For instance, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK- Farm Science Centres) in India is also responsible for skilling youth
and women. For developing the skills of the rural youth and to increase their productivity, Ministry of Skill
Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), India
signed an agreement on 20th March, 2018 . Skilling would not only ensure that agriculture becomes
technologically and entrepreneurially attractive to youth but also meet the emerging demand of Para
Professionals in Agriculture, Horticulture, Dairy, Poultry and Fisheries. 100 KVKs are implementing
Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture (ARYA) project to attract and empower the youth in rural
areas for taking up various agriculture and allied sector enterprises.

70. Etenesh Asfaw, Westminster International University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Youth bulge and rural unemployment are increasingly treatening Uzbekistan.
Attached is a policy brief with key messages entiteled: Rural youth in Agriculture and Rural development of
Uzbekistan. The objective of the brief is to initiate dialogue on the issue of rural youth and their
engagement in the future of agricultural development in the country. The brief puts forward why the rural
youth should be meaningfuly engaged in agricultural strategies. The policy brief also provides some
practical actions to be considered to engage the rural youth in agriculture and rural development
interventions. 
Attachment:
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/EA%20Rural
%20Development%20PB02.pdf

71. Elena Carrano, Italy

MAESTRANATURA: an innovative nutrition education program
Ministry of Health
Elena Carrano  Ministry of Health - Italian National Institute of Health,  Francesca Di Giacomo Ministry of
Health, Denise Giacomini Ministry of Health, Roberta Masella Italian National Institute of Health, Pasquale
Simonetti Ministry of Health, Giuseppe Ruocco Ministry of Health - Secretariat General,
Why is investing in education so important?
- It is necessary to increase citizens awareness of the main factors that determine adequate life styles,
firstly, nutrition. It is growing, although still a little explored field, the consideration towards the Food
Literacy (FL), as a factor that influences food schemes adopted by the population. FL is defined as a set of
skills and knowledge related to food, which, if properly applied, make people responsible to make
informed choices about food and nutrition thus contributing to the improvement of their own health.
- Obesity and overweight in Italian children  affect 30-40% of the population: alarming, and
Enough to classify Italian children as the worst In Europe.
- Educational programs that aim at transferring to primary and first level secondary school students the
knowledge about food and nutrition have become more necessary than ever.
- It should be a prerogative of a public health institute to implement the food literacy of the young
population and bet on prevention as a primary weapon to lower the costs of the health care.
- School appears as the most eligible setting to implement strategies to improve students’ diets and food
choices and can really play a pivotal role in promoting health.
What differentiates MaestraNatura from other nutrition education programs?
- The real effectiveness of school-based educational programs is quite equivocal till now; more still needs
to be done to reach the full potential of food and nutrition education in schools.
- New paradigms are needed that go beyond classroom-based transmission of basic and generic nutrition
information, to onesth at promote hands-on learning and skill development, opportunities to deal with
food, and practice in real life settings to favor the transfer of the oretical concepts of nutritional guidelines
in to the real context of the daily diet.
- MaestraNatura is an innovative education program implemented by Istituto Superiore di Sanità (the
National Institute of Health  in Italy) together with Ministry of Health and tested since 2012 in six Italian
regions by involving 580 schools, 630 teachers and about 20000 students aged 6-13.
- The final objective is to develop in children the awareness of the importance of having a
Balanced relationship with food, a proper nutrition and a healthy life style together with the ability of
transferring in areal context the theoretical principles contained in nutrition guidelines.
- The working hypothesis is that only through a 360°C comprehensive approach to food it can be allowed a
deeper knowledge of the nutritional principles, indispensable to obtain a complete and lasting adhesion to
adequate dietary habits. The teaching method is addressed to achieve and retain food-related basic
concepts of chemistry, physics, biology, biochemistry and physiology that have to be consolidated by
active participation of students to practical and experimental activities.
- Concomitant involvement of parents, and family as a whole, in the didactical path is required
- MaestraNatura program is based on a systemic approach to complex problems having as primary
objective to find connection with similar situations in different contexts. This can be obtained by answering
three very simple questions: Where is it from? What is it for? How does it work? This may allow creating a
knowledge network by defining crucial issues that lead to the comprehension of basic scientific concepts. It
is then possible to go ahead deepening the own characteristics of every system through a progressive and
active learning process that takes advantages of experimental laboratories, games, and cooking recipes to
be carried out at school and at home, respectively.
- The MaestraNatura program is composed by didactical contents that taken together represent a
complete teaching plan strictly connected to the different science programs specifically addressed to each
class. The didactical contents are distribute gradually along a time period long enough (8 years) to allows a
progressive development of the scientific issues by adapting the level of deepening to the age of children.
- The didactical contents, as well as additional information, experiments, and recipes are provided through
a web platform (www.maestranatura.org), accessible for teachers, students and parents; the web platform
is structured to become a real Learning ManagementSystem (LMS).
- The choice to use an IT tools to disseminate contents allowed reduced costs, real-time updates, and
sharing experience.
Contents of MaestraNatura’s platform

Class V of primary school Class II of secondary school

“Why do we have to eat?” “We are whatwe eat”

Objectives - understand the difference - understand the difference

between food and nutrients between food and nutrients
- understand the difference - learn to read a nutrition label
between the energy function - learn and to estimate the
and other nutrient functions nutritional content of afood
- learn to classify foods in even without reading its
different groups label
- acquire the principles of a - learn to balance a weekly
varieddiet menu while maintaining
variety in food and adequate,
quantities and frequencies of
consumption
Knowledge - recognize macronutrients and - recognize macronutrients
micronutrients and micronutrients
- know the different sources of - know the different sources of
energy: simple sugars, starch, energy: simple sugars,
fats, proteins starch,fats,proteins
- know the different sources of - know the different types of
proteins and fats: animals and fat: saturated and
vegetables unsaturated
- know the main water - know the different types of
functions, the division of food proteins: animal and
into groups and the vegetable/ essential amino
characteristics of the different acids
groups - know water function and
micronutrient function
- know the food groups and
the frequencies of
consumption of the different
groups

Skills Learning to eat inavaried way. - Be aware of the importance

of healthy and varied
nutrition.
- Be aware that nutrition can
be different based on
different life styles and
different nutritional needs.
- Know how to combine foods
with each other by balancing
meals in order to maintain
adequate varieties,
quantities and frequencies of
daily and weekly
consumption
Activities on the 2interactive games 3interactive games
platform 1lesson 3lesson
1verification test 3verification tests
recipes recipes
habits and life styles questionnaires habits and life styles questionnaires

Duration 10hours 14hours

Necessarytools The games and tests must be carried The games and tests must be carried
out individually on PC out individually onPC

Prerequisites - Knowledge of percentage

calculation
- Basics of food technology
(production of milkandits
derivatives; productionof
bread, pasta, cake, biscuits;
preservationsystems)
- Knowledge of the digestive
process

72. Mary Michelle Arsenault, Non-governmental organization, Uganda

My names are Mary Michelle, CEO, and Founder of KIwonnongo Foundation Inc (KFI) of Uganda/USA,
an NGO that assist communities with free education to about 400 children in Lunya- Kiboga District
of Uganda and provides assistance to women and youth groups both under the umbrella of the NGO.

These proceedings are compiled by the

Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)
for the High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE )
 Proceedings / 61

This organization started in 2012 and has changed Lunya and its surrounding communities. Once a
community with 98% illiteracy rate, children marriages, poor nutrition, droughts, unrepresented
women, children, and youth, now has a voice. The speed at which our socio-economic growth is very
slow to lack of government support and the last war devastation that wiped the communities off the
map. Currently, 400 children in primary school have education and we have 0.1% of school drop out.
Where there was no school, children now spend at least 8 hours a day gaining education. Youths and
women gaining self-sustaining skills.
Why is there a need to promote youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food
systems?
Youths in Lunya and Kiboga district as a whole are not represented, education is non-existing and
youths tend to lose interest, get frustrated and resort to going to the city where they become
beggars. Kiboga used to be the best district producing bananas, now, they are starving, youths have
no voice, no advocacy, no hope, no financial capability or skills training capacity. The few that grow
food, are unable to financially profit from it due to lack of transportation, no strategies,  and no
corporations. Since they are not educated, the system that could be available for them does not
invest enough time to engage in a community that has to be groomed from ground level. They have
no role models. KFI has started to cultivate the arena for inclusiveness, but the pace is very slow due
to a lack of representation.  This village is only 64 miles from Kampala, but have no clean running
water or electricity. No quality education system and no representation.
What are the key issues and opportunities?
*Lack of basic education skills.
*Lack of representation and advocacy.
*Lack of financial routes to fund start-ups with a well-organized team that can guide them at their
level of understanding and function.
*Lack of hope due to broken promises by the government, the higher stakeholders that don't reach
them as they promise.
*The local NGO are burnt out due to so many complex social-economic issues that have to be
addressed prior to addressing key factors (such as local cultural beliefs of child marriage, polygamy,
poor believe if education, poor women emancipation and continued oppression of women and girls
even if they are the sole breadwinners of the family, lack of support of women and girls rights, beliefs
that women must produce as many children to extend generations despite the fact that there is no
economical support for that kind of growth and the worse of all is the women are not given a role on
the platform of governance either at the family or community level), and so many others.
But, if youths are reached, met at their level of function, they are capable of being productive and
commit to being accountable for their economic growth. They are willing, they are energetic, they
are healthy, they have knowledge, but need structure, need guidance, need a starting base for
growth.
They need training and awareness that child production does not mean just producing offsprings.
They need awareness about HIV, deeper poverty, education, human rights, women empowerment,
and inclusiveness. A majority of them practice their ancestors' beliefs of culturally oppressing women
and girl children and polygamy. They need to be aware of HIV, early pregnancy deaths, STDs,
malnutrition, education, climate changes, effects of deforestation, land rights, self-reliance and
above all, they do not know what their civil rights are.

www.fao.org/cfs/cfs-hlpe
 Proceedings / 62

They need projects and training skills to acquire running or clean water as a community instead of
waiting for foreign aid or government. This shall train them with decision-making processes before
implementing any planned project.
They need access to finance start-ups.
They require gardening equipment access, more so as a cooperation instead of individualism that
currently exists and has not worked all these decades. This would be done to improve standards of
living and services in rural areas and mid-sized towns, as it would lead to retaining youths and young
families in their small towns. Youths do not really want to go to cities, this avenue shall entice them
to stay in the town, villages or small cities.
What are the most promising pathways to transform current agriculture and the food systems in
developing countries to make them more attractive to the youth?
Youths must be shown that there are financial gains from agricultural products, that there is market
and that they can be self-sustaining on agricultural products alone- if that is what they chose to
pursue. The majority of the youths are attracted to monetary gains, to being able to support their
lifestyles and their little or large family. When they grow their products, they must be able to sell
them without loss.
Youths especially women, need to be included in all decison- making processes, to be able to
contribute to the process that is involving the,- which is all aspects of life and they want to be
allowed to be part of the government because they are the breadwinners in Uganda. Young women
need the skills to make better decisions and learn to wait before becoming mothers themselves
when they are not ready just because the culture tells them so. They need training centers than can
accommodate their levels of understanding- any level and these accesses must find them at the
grassroots level so that they can feel included and not displaced. They need equipment to farm.
Growing any product using manpower is not productive at the rate of this rate of consumption and
demand.
In Kiboga District, there is a need for training about cooperation and its benefits. Facing the lack of
rules and laws in the country, little can be done at this level, but small groups are capable of making
their constitutions and form cooperations and produce agricultural products at a higher rate and
then learn/be trained on food security and proper nutrition.
There are numerous food security and preservation systems that have worked on grassroots levels
for decades, youths need professional direction and guidance
What are the most appropriate policies to remove obstacles to empower youth initiate and/or
upscale activities in agriculture and related services, in the food supply chain, in agroecology, and in
the food environment, as well as in nutrition and innovation, in accordance to their skills, aspirations,
assets, and contexts?
The best approach to empower current NGOs and Civil Society mechanisms and private entities at
grassroots levels. The government is too corrupt to assist community-based devastation. For the
communities to benefit fully and quickly from any higher stakeholders, it is imperative to engage,
empower, work with, link, network with locally-based NGOs. In many communities, there are no
policies, if there are there, people are not well represented and advocated for, many government
agencies are corrupt and cannot reach grassroots communities, which lead the youths to run out of
villages to cities where there is some hope- if at all deeper poverty is hope. But they are not aware of
political preferences in Uganda, they find out when it is too late. Youths need to be educated at their
level of understanding and capability. Not displaced.

www.fao.org/cfs/cfs-hlpe
 Proceedings / 63

What is the extent of wage discrepancies against youth and women in agriculture and food systems,
and what are some successful experiences in removing such wage differentials?
IN our communities, there is no such a thing as wage in the agriculture sector.  When a woman is
empowered, they produce as much as the men and possibly more because they celebrate women
emancipation at that level. In general, as everywhere in the world, women get lower wages than
men for the same job description, women are less admitted to jobs considered extreme such as
mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, construction and jobs or courses that require physical
strength. But to break this cycle, women and capable girls need to be afforded the same
opportunities as men and boys- if applicable. Public awareness must increase to allow women to
know that they too, can do what they qualify for and desire. The vulnerable and disadvantaged need
representation too, the major issue is the numerous existence of already complex issues to deal with.
Empowering and supporting current NGOs, Civil Society movements and private entities, holding
them accountable for their roles is the key to global socio-economic development in Uganda and
particularly in Kiboga District- that has been neglected for the last 3 decades. 
Data that is necessary to create this awareness is through the already existing local nongovernment
and other private entities such as religious entities, these sectors have all the data that is needed to
start a journey of self-sustaining communities. These entities are ready, many communities have
survived years of poverty due to the small assistance of NGOs and private and religious entities.
These entities' support is crucial in a country torn by greed, inflation, corruption, and government
neglect. For example at KFI, we serve several communities. The schools and community groups have
existed since 2012, community members have come to know us and come to us for advice, training,
advocacy, and representation, but the issues are so many and complex and we cannot tackle all
issues without the presence of an effective supporting system. We cannot grow food for the
community schools with manpower alone and without water, we cannot teach children modern
technology without computers and power, we cannot train all community members and replicate
our great services to reach vulnerable children if we have no local teachers with skills. 
We need collaboration with high stakeholders to move faster and more effectively. The youths
cannot wait for our slow system.
In conclusion, I am proud to be part and continue to innovate standards that are saving girl children;
educating at least 400 per year, training youths and women and contributing to decreasing the 98 %
illiteracy rate in Lunya, Lwamata sub-county, in Kiboga District. Communities without clean water,
without electricity, communities that are not represented.
Thank you.
Mary Michelle
CEO and Founder
Kiwonnongo Foundation Inc.- Uganda

73. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India

Sharing the most recent reference that should be considered in this report.
Yesterday, I watched the livestreaming of the book launch by the IFPRI.

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Youth and jobs in rural Africa: Beyond stylized facts, authored by Valerie Mueller, ed., James
Thurlow, ed. This 323 page book published by IFPRI &  Oxford University Press is one important
document which could be useful in preparing the report.
I liked when it was being emphasised: policies that are grounded in local evidence rather than
stylized facts.
More details:
https://www.ifpri.org/publication/youth-and-jobs-rural-africa-beyond-stylized-facts

74. Roxana Salazar, Fundacion Ambio, Costa Rica

El Comité Directivo del HLPE agradece sus aportaciones a esta consulta electrónica. En particular, le
invitamos a:
Aportar sus comentarios a las siguientes preguntas -identificando cualquier cuestión de género- para
orientar la preparación del informe:

1.    ¿Por qué es necesario promover la participación y el empleo de los jóvenes en los sistemas
agrícolas y alimentarios? ¿Cuáles son las cuestiones y oportunidades fundamentales?
La alimentación saludable y sostenible debe promoverse, la participación de la población joven en la
motivación y compromiso hacia esa alimentación es necesaria para garantizar mejor salud humana y
ambiental.
2.    ¿Cómo afectan la evolución y las transiciones de la agricultura, los sistemas alimentarios y la
nutrición a la participación y el empleo juvenil? ¿Cómo puede resultar el empleo en la agricultura y
los sistemas alimentarios más atractivo para los jóvenes, teniendo especialmente en cuenta la
continuidad entre el espacio rural y el urbano? ¿Qué se necesitaría para mejorar los niveles de vida y
los servicios en las zonas rurales y en las ciudades medianas, para retener a los jóvenes y a las
familias jóvenes?
En Costa Rica existen iniciativas que promueven agricultura sostenible, orgánica, especializada en
productos novedosos, se preparan platillos como ejemplo de cómo pueden utilizarse.
La separación entre rural y urbano esta muy diluida y no debe ser el parámetro de políticas publicas
orientadas a que todos los habitantes se comprometan con la alimentación saludable y la producción
agrícola sostenible.
3.    ¿Qué transformaciones son necesarias en la gobernanza para facilitar y alentar la participación
de los jóvenes en los sistemas agrícolas y alimentarios, y qué medidas se requieren para dotar a los
jóvenes de las habilidades y confianza necesarias para participar plenamente en estos procesos de
toma de decisiones?
Los sistemas alimentarios han cambiado mucho y se han venido deteriorando. Esto tiene un costo
económico muy alto para el sistema de salud. La formación desde la niñez en una alimentación
saludable y la producción agrícola sostenible son elementos fundamentales. 
4.    ¿Cuáles son las vías más prometedoras para transformar los actuales sistemas agrícolas y
alimentarios de los países en desarrollo y hacerlos más atractivos para los jóvenes?
Promoción y capacitación como mecanismos para motivar a los jóvenes hacia las granjas familiares y
cosas parecidas.

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Deben existir 
5.    ¿Cuáles son las mejores estrategias para implicar plenamente a los jóvenes -en particular a las
mujeres-, en oportunidades para adquirir las habilidades y posibilidades de formación adecuadas
para desarrollar sus conocimientos y permitirles liderar la innovación en la agricultura y la
transformación los sistemas alimentarios?
Por medio de incentivos que les permita acceder a recursos para poder producir y vender.
6.    ¿Cuáles son las políticas más apropiadas para eliminar los obstáculos y empoderar a los jóvenes
para iniciar y/o ampliar actividades en la agricultura y los servicios relacionados, la cadena de
suministro de alimentos, la agroecología y el entorno alimentario, así como en la nutrición y la
innovación, de acuerdo con sus habilidades, aspiraciones, activos y contextos?
La realización de ferias agrícolas en comunidades, escuelas, colegios que incentiven sobre la
producción familiar y sobre las ventajas de una alimentación saludable.
7.    ¿Cuáles son las políticas e iniciativas más adecuadas para facilitar la transición del sistema
educativo al mercado de trabajo y la incorporación y permanencia de los jóvenes en las actividades
relacionadas con la agricultura y los sistemas alimentarios? ¿Cuáles son los nodos y actividades de las
cadenas de suministro que tienen un mayor potencial para generar empleo juvenil decente? ¿Qué
nuevos tipos de formación se necesitan para fomentar enfoques más agroecológicos de la
agricultura?
Los ministerios de agricultura y de educación deben trabajar en conjunto, incorporar en el programa
educativo la alimentación saludable al igual que la producción agrícola sostenible. Sobre todo que se
realicen capacitaciones prácticas, incluyendo clases de cocina.
8.    ¿Cuál es el alcance de las disparidades salariales para con los jóvenes -en particular las mujeres-,
en los sistemas agrícolas y alimentarios, y qué ejemplos de experiencias exitosas hay en la
eliminación de esas diferencias salariales?
Desconozco.
9.    ¿Qué datos se necesitan para contribuir a la formulación de políticas que aumenten la
participación y el empleo de los jóvenes, y para concienciar sobre las necesidades, vulnerabilidades y
oportunidades específicas de los jóvenes desfavorecidos?
Desconozco.

75. James Breen, retired, Ireland

The problem with youth employment in agriculture in "developing countries" is that these countries
do not have the minimum conditions needed for investment in agriculture, namely, private property
backed by the rule of law.  The developed world has had this advantage for generations and only a
few countries that did not have these laws in the 20th century have made the rapid advances in
wealth that harnessing the capital value of land engenders.  Such countries include Japan, South
Korea and Taiwan.  Their experience is well described in the book: Owning the Earth, The
Transforming Power of Land Ownership by Andro Linklater, Bloomsbury, 2015.  
It is facile, even bordering on dishonest, to try to give young people the opportunity to grow
economically when the capital value of land is zero, as it is in so much of the world.   Hence the
growth of migration, with such people having no hope within the existing system where traditional

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chiefs work in cahoots with elected politicians to maintain the status quo.  I have worked in many
countries in Africa since 1971 and have seen that farmers I knew then have not improved their lot
since.  On the contrary, their land has been systematically mined of organic matter and nutrients
since they cannot ever afford fertilizers and still less, irrigation infrastructure.  
If countries such as Zambia, the 'traditional lands' of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Eritrea could
have the same rights to their land that were given to farmers in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan in the
late forties and early fifties, then it would be appropriate to show the young people the way
forward.  In those countries, agricultural production shot up immediately following " the freeing of
the farmers" in the words of General Douglas McArthur in his "Reminiscences", Heinmann, 1964, or
"Land Reform in Japan" by R.P. Dore, The Athlone Press. London, 1984.  
It will not be easy to convince governments and people that change to private land ownership is
necessary if people in these countries are to develop economically in the way that the West and the
countries named above has done.  But it is essential, especially in view of the explosive growth in
population in Africa, driven mainly by poverty.  Zambia and South Korea had about the same GNP at
PPP in 1960.  Now Zambia's GNP at PPP stands at $4223.90 while the equivalent figure for South
Korea is $40,119.80.  The capital value of land in South Korea provided the springboard for the
country's developement, while in Zambia land still has not been usable as collateral for loans or as a
capital base.  Until this changes, much foreign aid is totally wasted.  The elites in poor countries, e.g.
in the DRC or Angola continue to live a very high life while those who work the land are mired in
everlasting poverty.  
James Breen.

76. Camille Rameau, FAO, Cambodia

As an example of a project based on Youth engagement, I would like to introduce the activity that we
have been working on currently underway in Cambodia.
‘’Empowering Youth for Food Systems Improvement and Healthy Diets ‘’
The activity is an initiative of the EU-FAO FIRST Programme in Cambodia and builds upon work by the
Council for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hellen Keller International and WHO to conduct a
series of Youth Forums in 2019 on the topic of healthy diets. The topic of healthy diets was chosen as
one of the priority actions for multi-sectoral cooperation under the National Strategy for Food
Security and Nutrition 2019-2023, This successful series of youth forums generated a fresh
enthusiasm and a new approach for the agencies involved in food security and nutrition in Cambodia,
extending into further efforts to support the engagement of youth in 2020.
To address the general lack of understanding of food systems and to promote healthy diets amongst
young people, the EU-FAO First Programme has reached out to key partners to conduct an Adventure
Camp event for 2020 to empower and engage youth around sustainable food systems and healthy
diets. The objectives of this camp are aligned with the Joint Priorities for Healthy Diets and Food
Value Chains and Food Safety of the National Strategy for Food Security and Nutrition 2019 – 2023 in
Cambodia and the mainstreaming of the cross-cutting issue Gender and Youth.
The objective of the Adventure Camp is to engage a group of Cambodian students in activities related
to improving food security and nutrition. Fifty university students from different backgrounds will
participate in a three-day event in Kep Province which will combine field visits with exploratory

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learning activities centered on food systems and healthy diets. Other activities in the field are
designed to promote a healthy lifestyle.
The students are selected through a social media campaign designed to foster wider interest and
awareness of the issues amongst their peers. The training of facilitators for the Adventure Camp is a
preliminary activity and the Youth Champions developed by Hellen Keller International provide the
nucleus for the event facilitators. These Youth Champions are all young persons who have
demonstrated interest and commitment to working in the field of food security and nutrition.
This initiative is about giving the keys to the young generation to have a real impact on their food
environment by raising their awareness and giving them voice. The training is focused on the
potential of the young generation as future leaders contributing to national objectives for food
security and nutrition and the achievement of SDG2. The event has also been designed in recognition
of the changing nature of nutritional problems in Cambodia and the need for double duty actions to
combat malnutrition in all forms. Overweight and obesity are increasingly evident in Cambodia,
particularly for women of reproductive age. Knowing that young people are increasingly independent
in making food choices, it is vital that the education system takes account of this independence and
that young people are recognized as decision makers. The Adventure Camp is designed to recognize
that independence and support healthy choices based upon a more comprehensive understanding of
the food system,
It is to ensure that the participating students who are future leaders and agents of change, are aware
of the basic issues and have an understanding of how food systems impact their lives and the social
and economic development of the country. This could lead to increase their effectiveness in
professional roles, now and in the future and to provide insights into prospective avenues for
employment.
Our key messages are :
Food systems have a critical role in influencing nutrition and healthy diets
Agriculture and food systems impact nutrition by influencing the quantity, quality and diversity of
food produced, prices and purchasing power of producers, as well as consumer habits and diets.
In order to for young people to understand how the food system serves healthy diets, we have to
unpack the linkages between nutrition and food system:
We need to introduce all the stakeholders of the food system: food production (farmers, fisher-
folks); food processing and storage; food trade (cooperative, retail shops and markets); consumer
habits and food preparation (cooking activities).
Participants should also consider the food system from the perspective of the consumer’s nutritional
needs for healthy diets and to learn how the elements of the food system can impact directly on
their health.

A sustainable food system depends on a productive farming systems and stewardship of the
natural resource base
Agriculture and food systems also have an impact on water, health environment and caring practices,
which are important drivers of nutrition. They have to understand the environment stakes of
supporting small farmers/producers instead of big productions. They should have an overview of the

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natural resource base (water, soil, air, climate, biodiversity) and which impact it could have on
livelihoods, farmers and sustainable food security and nutrition for all. We will give them a
comprehensive context about food resources, agro-ecology, seasonality of production and income,
access to productive resources, market opportunities and infrastructure, health and care
environment.
Gender impacts on the roles in food systems and on the impacts of the food system
Women play a key role in household care and nutrition. Many nutritional challenges are also linked
to gender issues. We have to teach them that agriculture and food systems can significantly impact
women’s time use, decision-making power, income, inequity. They have to understand that women
are the cornerstone of household care and nutrition and by privileging food produced by women
they support them.
Young people have the power to have a real impact on food environments
Education around healthy diets and sustainable food systems aims to increase the awareness of
urban youth on the nutritional value of foods, how to read labels and why it is important to limit
salts, sugar and fats in the diet. This information will help them to make informed consumption
choices and also to support smaller producers for a sustainable food system.
The Adventure Camp is launched in partnership with Helen Keller International and the involve the
Council of Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD) and other line ministries as well as World Food
Program and UNICEF. It is also the opportunity to reinforce cooperation between UN organizations
and civil society in supporting the achievement of the objectives of the National Strategy for Food
Security and Nutrition hand in hand with the government.
I wish to recommend also a useful reference for the purposes of the consultation as attached.
Attachment:
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/Preparing
%20and%20accessing%20decent%20work%20amongst%20rural%20youth%20in%20Cambodia.pdf

77. Mamy Lalaina Razafindrakoto, FAO, Italy

Main challenges faced by rural youth aged 15–17, including child labour
Special attention should be given in the HLPE 2021 report to the youngest category of youth (15-17)
living in rural areas. These youth have reached the minimum age for employment (the general rule is
15 but some developing countries are allowed to set it temporarily at 14) yet are still considered
children, therefore, they experience greater vulnerabilities in preparing and accessing for decent
work opportunities.
Some of the barriers and challenges they face include:
 Limited access to secondary education: While education, in particular primary education, is
compulsory in most countries, it does not always ensure that children in this age bracket are
indeed in school for secondary school. Access to education can be further hindered by household
poverty, school fees, long distances to school, poor quality of education and perceptions of
irrelevance of curriculum to local life styles and needs, cultural norms, etc.

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 Limited access to adequate (agricultural) education and skill development courses: courses
are often not up-to-date and in line with market demand, and educational facilities can be situated
in urban areas;
 Gaps in legal protection: for example, they may not be able to legally sign formal contracts
which can push them into informal work or exploitative conditions;
 Exclusion from policy-making processes because these often take place in urban areas, and
local leaders in rural areas often only interact with family heads;
 Limited experience and lack of competitiveness, when unemployment is widespread, youth
are less competitive in terms of skills and expertise and often experience a skills gap compared
with their urban counterparts. They may also experience more difficulties in accessing markets;
 Insufficient capital, which makes starting a business highly risky for youth;
 Minimum age constraints that impede access to land, financial services and business
development services;
 Limited access to and participation in producer organizations, cooperatives and trade
unions;
 Exclusion from government and employment related programmes where the focus is often
on youth 18 and above.
Although the 15-17 age cohort have reached the minimum age for employment, when they are
involved in hazardous work, it is considered child labour. Moreover, because the cohort can
experience greater barriers to decent employment, especially in rural areas, they are at greater risk
of exploitation, including child labour.
According to the Global Statistics on child labour released by Alliance 8.7 in 2016, there are
almost 38 million children – 24 million boys and 14 million girls – of this age cohort in child labour.
This is reinforced by country-level statistics indicating that the 15-17 cohort in child labour suffer
higher levels of work-related illness and injury than other employed children in this age range. They
are also more likely than other employed 15-17 year-olds to have dropped out of school
prematurely. Most of them work in agriculture and undertake hazardous tasks in crop production,
livestock, forestry or fishing because of rural poverty, lack of access to quality education and
training, the informality and the seasonality of agriculture and other aggravating factors, such as
climate change,. Thus, the 15-17 age cohort require greater protection from occupational hazards
and greater support in preparing and accessing decent employment opportunities in rural areas.

78. Ariane Genthon, FAO, Italy

Rural girls under 18 are a vital force for rural communities and rural development, and constitute
many of the world’s current and future farmers. Globally, most young women between the ages of
10 and 24 live in less developed countries and in rural areas – where the majority of today’s global
poor can be found. Therefore, many girls in the 15-17 age group, age at which they are transitioning
from childhood to adulthood, which often means early marriage and pregnancy, live in poverty and
are at high risk of exploitation. These girls continue to face discrimination based on deeply rooted
gender stereotypes, especially in comparison to their urban counterparts. They can easily succumb to
child labour and face additional challenges in accessing decent employment opportunities,
productive resources and services.

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However there are several potential actions that could be undertaken to help rural girls thrive.
With the right gender-responsive policies, efforts that support youth aged 15-17 and rural
communities can strongly contribute to the empowerment of these girls.
• Recognize the needs of rural youth, boys and girls, aged 15-17 globally and at policy
level, supporting equal access to decent work opportunities, equal access to
resources, and participation in social dialogue. Governments must coordinate and
institutionalize action.
• Embrace the richness of agriculture in education, technical and vocational education
and training (TVET), and technical schools to meet the needs of rural communities –
and adapt learning programmes to the specific needs and aspirations of girls.
• Include young women in the new wave of agricultural development that is bringing
innovation and technology to rural areas to improve the agricultural sector and
tackle rural-urban migration, such as green jobs and agribusiness.
• Prevent child labour by building capacities of stakeholders in the private sector to
ensure decent and equal working conditions and to improve agricultural practices, in
collaboration with agricultural stakeholders, to prevent hazardous working
conditions for boys and girls.
Action targeting the specific needs of girls must also increase to make a difference:
• Motivate and facilitate female-led youth collective mobilization to integrate their
voice in policy processes and in agricultural organizations, empower them to have an
active voice in the household and community creating a safe space for girls and
women.
• Ensure social protection policies provide additional support to mothers and girls with
care-taking responsibilities .
• Ensure that the importance of rural girls’ education is emphasized within education
and rural development policy and programme development.
• Raise awareness and knowledge to challenge cultural and social norms that preserve
harmful and constraining gender stereotypes in rural areas.
• Promote women’s and girl’s access to assets such as land, livestock, water;
productive resources financial products, extension services, such as technologies and
inputs; and services, land, such as information, training, credit, extension, transport -
so that they are enabled to access markets and opportunities
• Foster introduction of innovative financial products and services according to this
population, such as funds; integrated package of services (mentoring and training);
modern collateral regimes; group lending; ICT-led solutions, among others, that
enhance their entrepreneurial potential.
• Collect sex-disaggregated data about gender differences and inequalities in rural
employment.

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79. Iean Russell, FAO, Cambodia

The engagment of youth in sustainable agriculture and food systems in Cambodia
I would like to offer some brief comments concerning the opportunities for, and constraining factors
affecting youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food systems, particulalrly regarding
youth access to training, education and mentorship programmes and to policy making processes in
Cambodia.  These comments are based on experience with agricultural education and policy matters
in Cambodia and other countries.  I am currently employed in Cambodia as an EU-FAO Policy Officer
for the FIRST Programme supporting transformation to support sustainable food systems.
Cambodia has a youthful population, with tremendous enthusiasm to secure rewarding employment,
pursue opportunities for enterprise and to innovate.  Cambodia has the potental  to secure a once
only demographic dividend in coming decades.  This potential arises as the youthful population
surges forward; dependency ratios for the workforce are falling; health is improving; and knowledge,
skills and technology are all fueling economic and social development.  The dividend is by no means
guaranteed. The right investments and policies are required to capitalise on the opportunity. 
Handled skillfully, this is the opportunity for Cambodia to score on its sustaibnable development
goals and to move rapidly onwards from Lower Middle Income Status.  
For the agricultural sector, the returns to labour and capital are lower than for other sectors. 
Agricultural growth lags behind other sectors and agriculture is less and less attractive to youth as a
source of employment or a course of study.
My key observations regarding the constraints and opportunities for youth in terms of access to
training, education and mentorship are:
1. Such opportunities are limited for the general population, but improving quite rapidly in the
face of demand.
2.  For agriculture, it likely the demand for access to these services in their current format will
continue to decline. The skills provided to support employment in agriculture need regular review
and in most cases, the skills on offer are not very relevant or attractive for youth.  The
opportunities for youth living in rural and remote communities are much less than for urban
settings.  
3. Particular care is needed to promote equity in access to these services and to examine the
profound impacts of youth migration accompanying profound structural change in the economy.
4. Mentorship for rural youth considering employment in agriculture is particulalrly lacking.
There are few role models, practical examples or clear paths to follow. 
5. There is a lack of resourcing for the research, innovation and enterprise that drives a
successful agricultural industry and this is reflected in the educational offerings and the
vocational training associated with the sector. These areas have been neglected in favour of
development projects aimed at the aging population of farmers with little evidence of successful
engagment of youth in productive and profitable activity in the sector.
6. There is no lack of enthusiasm for ideas and opportunities on the part of youth.   Yet there is
insufficient attention to nuturing that enthusiasm for the pruposes of promoting sustainable
agriculture. 
In terms of access to policy processes, youth have had little chance for access to those processes or
voice in the policy dialogue. This situation is changing rapidly. Respect for elders and for tradition is

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embedded in Cambodian society. Whilst that respect is preserved, there is also recognition that
youth are increasingly steering the way forward.  Opportunities for increasing youth engagement and
voice in Cambodia relate to:
1. Increased access to quality education and freedom from child labour
2. Availability of youth platforms and networks giving youth an opportunity to see their needs
and interests addressed.
3. Social media, which gives a youthful population with a phenomenal level of smart phone
ownership a voice, albeit with all the possibilities for distortion of opinions and manipulation that
have accompanied the rise of such media.
4. A rising popular culture accompanying increases in wealth, urbanisation and the freedoms
enjoyed by youth, which amplifies certain aspects of youth opinion and aspirations. However, it
seems that more effort is expended in promoting a mythical notion of a romantic rural existence,
than in providing the any practical vision for employment and enterprise in agriculture.
5. An active movement on the part of government, development agencies and civil society to
engage with youth and to give them voice.  Considering the potential, this movement is in a
nascent state. 
6. Generational changes in the leadership of society.  
Overall, the key elements to support transformation for Cambodia lie in creating and sharing a vision,
providing the leadership for strategic processes to support the vision and public resources to set the
wave in motion.  The momentum will be sustained by youthful enthusiasm rewarded by profits. 
In the consultations and drafting of the National Strategy for Food Security and Nutrtion 20192-
2023 in Cambodia, we have recognised the importance of gender and youth as cross-cutting issues
and set each working group supporting the strategy with the task of implementing specific actions to
address gender concerns and youth.

80. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India

Ariane Genthon’s comment on rural girls under 18 inspired me to write, how assets as small as
bicycle can empower rural girls in developing countries
When I see girls now cycling to schools in rural areas, I see them empowered, since in my young age,
only a few boys had access to cycles, while girls were not allowed to ride bicycle in my village.
Tremendous efforts are being made worldwide to reduce the gender gap in education, yet It’s true
there are still significant barriers to girls’ education and empowerment—particularly for adolescent
girls. For instance, In India, due to continued dominant patriarchal norms, the birth of a girl is still a
cause for mourning. India has a long way to go to ensure that every girl has the opportunity to
complete secondary school. Fortunately, simple interventions, like the humble bicycle, which can
promote accessibility to distant schools, and providing life skills education can increase school
retention rates, improve learning outcomes, and reduce early marriages. Bicycles have proven to be
wheels of change and evidence suggests they can successfully boost rural girls’ enrollment in
secondary school.
Despite the many efforts made by the Indian government and nonprofits, the high drop-out rate of
girls, particularly in rural areas, leads to 47 percent of girls getting married before the legal age of 18,

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and 20 percent before their 15th year. In addition to child marriages, some of the major barriers to
educational attainment for adolescent girls are a lack of access to secondary schools in rural areas
and social mind sets among parents that do not value the importance of educating daughters as
compared to sons.
Bicycle- reduce dependency on male members of home, boost self confidence, facilitate going to
schools or skill learning centres, work place. Girls can do many tasks without waiting for men to help
by giving a ride for these place which is a obligation and subject to their availability.
BICYCLES EMPOWER GIRSL IN RURAL AREAS
References
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/education-plus-development/2017/07/27/cycling-to-success-a-
road-to-empowerment-for-rural-girls-in-india/
https://econweb.ucsd.edu/~kamurali/papers/Published%20Articles/Cycling%20to%20School%20
https://research.steinhardt.nyu.edu/scmsAdmin/media/users/jnw216/HMSS/Jose_Spring_2012.pdf
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/10/how-bicycles-empower-women/
Some of the the most recent references that should be considered in this report, in context of
employmenetExtension, & Advisory services for youth
FAO. (2018). Youth employment in agriculture. Conference report. Rome: FAO.
Flink, I., Vaast, C., Jacobs, J. (2018). Youth in Agricultural Cooperatives: Challenges and Opportunities.
Amsterdam: Royal Tropical Institute (KIT)
Franzel, S., Kinyua, H., Rucibigango, M., Davis, K., and Makh, S.(2019).Youth in Extension and
Advisory Services: Rwanda. Developing Local Extension Capacity Project.USAID, Washington D.C.
McNamara, P. and Bohn, A. (2017). Opinion: 3 ways extension services can engage and empower
rural youth. Global Views. Champagne-Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois
McGill, K. (2018). Cultivating Youth Entrepreneurs in Rwanda’s Agriculture Sector. Research Triangle
Park,North Carolina:RTI International
USAID Youth Power Program. (2018). What works in Youth and Agriculture, Food Security, and
Nutrition. Retrieved from Youth Power: 
http://www.youthpower.org/what-works-youth-and-agriculture-food%C2%A0security-and-
nutrition#YouthAssessmentTools

Yami, M., Shiferaw, F., Abdoulaye, T., Alene, A.D., Bamba, Z. and Manyong, V. (2019). African rural
youth engagement in agribusiness: achievements, limitations and lessons. Sustainability, 11:185:1-
15.

81. Norbert F. Tchouaffe Tchiadje, University of Dschang, Cameroon

Hello dear All,

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I am Norbert Tchouaffé, PhD in applied development sciences from Cameroon, answering the
question 5 and refering to the remote area of my country which figures about 60% unemployment
where there are space for cultivation. I do think there is a need to create excellence training centers
in different region of the word using online teaching to build the capacity of youth.
 Most of them are using Mobil phone, so they could be trained using this tool.
Regarding the building capacity syllabuses they are available in our various universities.
Thanks.

82. Solomon Oyeniran, OSOA FOODS, Nigeria

Following the request of the High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) online on the scope above I hereby
submit thus.
This is one of the provoking thoughts that clears roadblocks to achieving Agenda 2030.
Knowing fully well the essence of Agriculture in any nation, we must make sure we provide avenues
for growth and sustainability by providing adequate infrastructures to reaching desired goals.
Ordinarily agriculture can not stand alone without Food Processing which is a middle process to end
users.
Factors Limiting Youth Engagement:
First of all, the Youth I question has to see career prospects in Engagement of Agriculture and Food
System. This is where passion as a driver emancipate being a catalyst.
Availability of Land for Agricultural Farming purpose and Food Systems.
Availability of Equipment: This is key as prospective entrepreneurs with adequate skills and
knowledge to not have the capacity to procure these equipment to do such business.
Bench Marking on Age Limits: This has drastically suppressed the zeal of about 60% prospective
entrepreneurs to venture into so many aspects of the economy including Agriculture and Food
Systems due to policies of age barriers as key requirements to scale through processes starting from
registration.
Lack of Technical Know-how and Training: There are not enough resource persons to handle practical
Agriculture and Food Systems. The available ones, age limit policy may have screened them out.
Government at all levels should promote Agriculture and Food Systems as priority agenda regardless
of political affiliation for sustainability.
If the challenging issues ranging from Food Security, Food Nutrition and Food Safety across the value
chain are tackled head-on now, we can be sure of Agenda 2030 vision by the UN SDGs.

83. Manuel Moya, University Miguel Hernández, Spain

Promoting youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food systems: e-consultation on
the Report’s scope, proposed by the HLPE Steering Committee.

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In these geographical areas of concern the need for improving agriculture and food systems is
necessary and urgent. Although ‘a large and untapped reservoir of unemployment exists’, this kind of
work is not fully attractive for youths.
Actions that can contribute for solving this issue are well covered in the nine questions at the HLPE
Report. Some of these are out of the scope of habitual medical field, therefore my input will be
limited to the ones with shared background and interest.
Q 1.  At determined developmental stages of a country/ community, the agricultural application and
commitment has been very important as food and income sources including employment, provided
this being attractive for youths. The knowledge of the existence in somewhere else of other levels of
development should not prevent or disregard this important stage. A feasible design for each
country/ community is required for engagement
Q 2. Make aware to this target population that new technics improve crops and food quality and
subsequently healthier people. Genetically modified foods such as cereals with higher lysine or
vitamin A content could be a good example, as well as for their safety (1).
Q 3. Facilitating to the community agricultural machinery. Small sized tractors, besides the physical
help imply a satisfactory feeling to young farmers, if impossible elementary cheap tools will
contribute.  
Q 5. Gender full equity in every aspect of the engagement and employment action. These should also
include elementary nutritional information with clear examples such as the real risk of double burden
of malnutrition (under and over) that is growing in LMIC, in this regard the  positive role played by
females is basic everywhere. (2).
Q 6. Education carefully balanced with work. Short sessions on agricultural planned changes and on
literacy, initially on the related items.
Manuel Moya, MD, PhD.
University Miguel Hernández, Medical School Campus of San Juan Alicante Spain
References
1. Delaney B, Goodman RE, Ladics GS. Food and feed safety of genetically engineered
food crops. Toxicol Sci 2018; 162(2): 361-71.
2. Hawkes C, Ruel MT, Salm L, Sinclair B, Branca F. Double-duty actions: seizing
programme and policy opportunities to address malnutrition in all its forms. Lancet
2020; 395: 142-45.

84. Henry Garay Sarasty, Colombia

For promoting youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food systems today, it would
be useful to recognise two important dynamics which are affecting the effectiveness of public
policies. First, the manner in which youth relates, learns and motivates. Current youth are
characterised by being digital natives, their interpersonal communication is mediated by electronic
devices, the range of personal contacts is global, and finally, all of them have access to the paradigms
of urban welfare through information technologies. Second, the current rural development brings
two new changes: agriculture on demand beyond high technical productivity to make it profitable

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and complementary activities for income generation in the field of services, such as ecosystem
services and tourism and edu-entertainment services.
The question is to what extent these changes in youth and agriculture implies new and innovative
policy intervention ways and instruments. Associative schemes of production based on
communication technologies and provision of social services such as co-operative systems should be
explored.

85. Norbert F. Tchouaffe Tchiadje, University of Dschang, Cameroon

Hello dear all,
Still Dr Norbert Tchouaffé, emphasizing on the question 5, 
to reach out and build the capacity of the maximum of youth , a blended training (onsite and online)
could be envisaged :
- onsite mentoring training for those who live nearby the regional  training center to be created;
-Online  mentoring training for those who live faraway from the due center.
For this last case the didactic material could be a computer or a Mobil phone with internet access. 
To be sustainable this initiative should be supported financially by the government who after 
training in Agriculture will allocate land for production to the yong agri-preneurs.
Regards.

86. Norbert F. Tchouaffe Tchiadje, University of Dschang, Cameroon

Hello dear all,
My last contribution under the question 5 is followed:
-Focusing again on mobile-friendly training of youth,.I do think it is the easy  way to build a pair
mentorship (mentor and mentees) in Agricultural production which could reach naximun of youth
and involves them in agriculture for the theoretical phase.
For the pratical phase, the government with support of FAO could create a community school  farms
where mentors could convene yong agripreneurs for practices. This answer also gives insight to the
question 4.
Regarding the question 1 the terrorists in Africa always target jobless youth between15-18 years old
(Boko Haram) so promoting their involvement and employment in agriculture and good systems is an
opportunity .
Warmly.
Dr Norbert Tchouaffé From Cameroon

87. Mahesh Chander, ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India

Towards the close of  this wonderful discussion, I wish to highlight the issue of migration and youth.

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 I am a native of central Himalays, where from most of the youth have migrated, leaving behind
women to toil in farm lands. I wish this report addresses the plight of young women, who struggle to 
earn their living under difficult circumsantces.
Some links dealing with youth migrations are given here under:
https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/exodus-of-youths-leaves-arable-land-uncultivated/?
fbclid=IwAR3W661M9rDHJLAoagSpksBcPVvRkP6qtnng7diXsuaxg-1jgdx0-b9k5B0
http://nirdpr.org.in/nird_docs/srsc/srscrr261016-3.pdf
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/over-700-uttarakhand-villages-
deserted-in-10-years-report/articleshow/64044151.cms?from=mdr
https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/documents/youth/fact-sheets/youth-migration.pdf
https://globalmigrationgroup.org/system/files/23._Key_Messages_and_Policy_Recommendations.pd
f

88. Koba Philippe Akpaki, DEDRAS, Benin

1. Pourquoi est-il nécessaire de promouvoir la participation et l'emploi des jeunes dans
l'agriculture et les systèmes alimentaires? Quels sont les principaux problèmes et opportunités?
La nécessité de promouvoir la participation et de l’emploi des jeunes dans l’agriculture et les
systèmes alimentaires n’est plus à demontrer. Quatre raisons principales peuvent être avancé pour
justifier cette nécessité.
 La croissance démographique : la population mondiale en 2015 s'élèvait à 7,3 milliards de
personnes et elle devrait atteindre 8,5 milliards en 2030. 25% de la population mondiale sera
Africain d’ici 2050 et l’Afrique sera le 1er continent le plus peuplé. On  estime  que  plus  de  2
milliards d'enfants naîtront dans le monde entre 2015 et 2030 (ONU, 2015).
 Le taux de chômage: au plan mondial, il est de 21% contre 28% en Afrique.    
 Le potentiel de l'agriculture et les systèmes alimentaires pour l’emploi des jeunes :
l’agriculture constitue le plus gros employeur et où les besoins en termes de disponibilité,
d'accès et de qualité des aliments et de la nutrition sont les plus grands. Il existe un important
réservoir inexploité d'emplois dans le secteur agroalimentaire
 La réduction de la pauvreté et de la faim: l’emploi des jeunes dans l’agriculture entrainerait
l’augmentation des revenus des jeunes et contribuerait à réduire la pauvreté. D’un autre coté,
cette participation va contribuer à la réduction de la faim à cause de la production en quantité
et qualité suffisante pour la population.
La participation et l’emploi des jeunes dans l’agricculture offre deux avantages, celui d’offrir des
emplois aux jeunes en résultant le problème de chômage aggravé par la croissance démographique
et celui de lutter contre la faim dans le monde à travers une production durable et une amélioration
des systèmes alimentaires.
2. Comment l'évolution et les transitions de l'agriculture, des systèmes alimentaires et de la
nutrition affectent-elles la participation et l'emploi des jeunes?      
Comment l’emploi dans l’agriculture et les systèmes alimentaires peut-il devenir plus attrayant
pour les jeunes, compte tenu en particulier du continuum rural-urbain?     

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Que faudrait-il pour améliorer les niveaux de vie et les services dans les zones rurales et les villes
moyennes, afin de retenir les jeunes et les jeunes familles?
 L’emploi dans l’agriculture et les systèmes alimentaires peut devenir plus attrayant pour les
jeunes si les obstacles suivants sont lévés : le manque d’emplois; le besoin de ‘connaître
quelqu'un’; le manque d'expérience professionnelle antérieure; un système de soutien faible
pour les jeunes au chômage. L’accès aux capitaux (pour les jeunes des zones rurales) est un
défi majeur et constant qui limite la capacité des jeunes à démarrer une entreprise dans le
secteur. Les institutions financières décrivent les jeunes comme étant trop immatures et
insuffisamment préparés à l'entreprenariat. Ces institutions manquent aussi de savoir-faire
pour traiter avec les acteurs actifs dans les économies informelles. Les jeunes doivent être
accompagnés pour devenir un secteur d'activité viable. la plupart des jeunes n'ont pas accès à
la terre, en raison de contraintes socioculturelles, de la situation économique et d'un manque
de volonté politique. Les femmes sont le plus défavorisées  en ce qui concerne l'accès à la
terre, ce qui limite leurs possibilités dans l'agriculture .
 Faute d'accès à la formation et à la technologie, de nombreux jeunes voient l'agriculture
comme un métier "sans issue" et cherchent plutôt un emploi dans les zones urbaines (Comité
sur la sécurité alimentaire mondiale dans le rapport Bénin)’. Pour améliorer les niveaux de vie
et les services dans les zones rurales et les villes moyennes, afin de retenir les jeunes, il faut:
 Soutenir le développement et la mise en œuvre d'approches politiques intégrées: Des emplois
décents pour les jeunes stimuleront et renforceront les approches politiques intégrées et les
programmes stratégiques aux niveaux national et local afin de promouvoir l'emploi des jeunes
dans les zones rurales. Le développement des capacités institutionnelles ainsi que des
investissements publics et privés plus responsables dans les systèmes agroalimentaires et dans
le développement rural seront encouragés. Pour exploiter le potentiel d'emploi inexploité de
l'agriculture et des autres secteurs ruraux, le dialogue entre les acteurs de l'agriculture et du
travail sera activement encouragé et la cohérence des politiques intersectorielles en faveur
d'un emploi rural décent renforcée. La violence sexiste, la maternité précoce et les mariages
d'enfants, ainsi que la participation à des conflits, sont des éléments transversaux auxquels les
jeunes ruraux sont confrontés et que les décideurs doivent inclure dans la stratégie intégrée.
Des institutions publiques et privées nationales, notamment les ministères chargés de
l’agriculture, de la jeunesse, des questions liées au genre et au travail, des organisations de
producteurs, des groupes de jeunes, des bureaux nationaux de statistique et des centres de
recherche seront également impliqués. Grâce à des politiques macroéconomiques et
sectorielles favorables à l'emploi, à des programmes et services d'emploi bien adaptés et à une
sensibilisation accrue grâce à des partenariats multidisciplinaires, les jeunes auront davantage
de chances d'accéder à des emplois décents et productifs.
 Rendre disponibles et accessibles dans les zones rurales et villes moyennes les infrastructures
et services de base (accès à l’eau, à l’electricité, aux soins de santé, l’école ...etc). A cet effet, il
faut une meilleure repartition géographique desdites infrastructures
 Stimuler un environnement commercial favorable et inclusif: En concertation avec de
multiples parties prenantes, les gouvernements seront soutenus dans leurs efforts pour attirer
les investissements dans l'économie rurale. Les réformes de l’environnement des entreprises
au niveau national devraient être axées sur les politiques, lois et réglementations couvrant des
domaines tels que la fiscalité, les douanes, le commerce et la concurrence, ainsi que sur les
conditions générales du développement du secteur privé. Le développement des PME rurales,

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qui a tendance à être à forte intensité de main-d'œuvre, fera l'objet d'une attention
particulière. Les infrastructures physiques étant une composante essentielle du climat de
l’investissement, les méthodes de développement des infrastructures à forte intensité
d’emploi seront encouragées. Les opportunités d’emplois et de marché dans les milieux ruraux
seront partagés avec les jeunes.
 Renforcer l’éducation et la formation des jeunes ruraux: Les jeunes femmes et hommes
bénéficieront d'approches de formation efficaces et novatrices pour aligner leurs compétences
sur la demande de main-d'œuvre rurale. Des modules agricoles et agroentrepreneurs seront
introduits dans les programmes d’enseignement. En dehors du système éducatif formel, les
jeunes pourront acquérir des connaissances sur l'entrepreneuriat durable, par exemple en
échangeant avec des agriculteurs plus âgés des pratiques et des technologies qui se sont
révélées efficaces dans la gestion des ressources naturelles. 28 Les bonnes pratiques et les
agro-entrepreneurs performants seront présentés, avec des itinéraires d'apprentissage
développés pour permettre la montée en puissance des approches innovantes et attirer
davantage de jeunes dans le secteur agricole.
 Garantir l'accès aux ressources productives: En veillant à ce que les initiatives offrent aux
jeunes ruraux, en particulier aux femmes, un accès à des ressources telles que la terre, la
technologie et des services financiers, l'agriculture sera promue en tant qu'activité attrayante.
En outre, des facilités de crédit et des prêts spécialement adaptés aux jeunes ruraux seront
encouragés. L’accès des jeunes à la terre sera garanti par l’octroi de concessions et de baux de
terres par l’intermédiaire d’associations ou de coopératives agricoles de jeunes. En outre, les
jeunes bénéficieront d'investissements accrus dans les infrastructures sociales et économiques
afin de leur offrir des perspectives d'emploi et des conditions de vie attractives.
 Promouvoir des emplois verts: L'initiative encouragera activement l'adoption d'activités
agricoles respectueuses de l'environnement et développera la formation des populations
rurales à l'utilisation des technologies agricoles vertes, par le biais d'activités de renforcement
des capacités (telles que l'agriculture biologique et l'agriculture de conservation). Il renforcera
également la prise de conscience des perspectives d'emploi des travailleurs ruraux dans des
systèmes alimentaires plus écologiques.
3. Quelles transformations de la gouvernance sont nécessaires pour permettre et encourager la
participation des jeunes de l'agriculture et aux systèmes alimentaires, et quelles actions sont
nécessaires pour doter les jeunes des compétences et de la confiance nécessaires pour participer
pleinement à ces processus décisionnels?
Au niveau de la gouvernance, il est essentiel d’impliquer les jeunes dans les prises de décisions et
dans la mise en oeuvre des politiques, projets et programmes les concernant. Toute décision prise au
nom des jeunes sans les jeunes est contre les jeunes. Les autorités étatiques doivent faire confiance
aux jeunes et reconnaitre que la participation des jeunes est esentielle dans la résolution des
problèmes des jeunes et dans la gouvernance des états pour conduire au développement durable.
‘L’avenir de l’agriculture en Afrique dépend des  jeunes talents pour qu’ils fassent de l’agriculture
une vocation professionnelle.  
Pour doter les jeunes des compétences et confiance, il faut assurer une formation continue (en
cascade, à distance, en présentiel) aux jeunes au regard des opportunités de marché et d’emplois. Au
sujet de la confiance, il faut offrir aux jeunes des services de coaching et dévelopement personnel
afin qu’ils développent la confiance en soi. Les actions de volontariat et de promotion des jeunes à

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des poste de prise de responsabilité/décisions sont aussi nécessaires pour doter les jeunes des
compétences pour une pleine participation au processus décisionnel.
4. Quelles sont les voies les plus prometteuses pour transformer les systèmes agricoles et
alimentaires actuels dans les pays en développement afin de les rendre plus attrayants pour les
jeunes?
Les voies les plus prometteuses pour rendre attractive et transformer les systèmes agricoles et
alimentaires actuels dans les pays en développement sont entre autre :
 La modernisation des programmes agricoles existants en introduisant de nouvelles
technologies et en tenant davantage compte de la durabilité et de l'agriculture biologique;
 ·l’intégration des technologies de l'information et de la communication y compris les drônes;
 L’introduction des approches de formation tenant compte des disparités entre les sexes pour
les jeunes, en mettant l'accent non seulement sur l'agriculture, mais aussi sur
«l'entrepreneuriat socio-économique durable» et l'autonomisation;
 L’amélioration de l'accès à la formation à l'esprit d'entreprise agricole
 La promotion des chaînes de valeur agricoles
La création de centres d'incubation combinant différents types de production agricole (élevage,
culture, aquaculture) et de services (commercialisation, innovation, recherche), dans le but de
favoriser les synergies.
5. Quelles sont les meilleures stratégies pour engager pleinement les jeunes, en particulier les
jeunes femmes, dans les opportunités d’acquérir les compétences adéquates et les opportunités
d’apprentissage pour développer davantage leurs connaissances et leur permettre d’être des
leaders dans l’agriculture innovante et la transformation des systèmes alimentaires?
Il s’agit de :
 présenter les cheminements de carrière de jeunes agriculteurs et «agro-entrepreneurs»
prospères en tant qu’exemples susceptibles d’encourager la participation des jeunes à
l’agriculture et de réduire la stigmatisation associée à l’agriculture;
 promouvoir des emplois et des lieux de travail sûrs, flexibles et adaptés aux femmes; ·
 adopter des protections du droit du travail et des systèmes de sécurité sociale donnant la
priorité à l'amélioration des conditions de travail des ménages et des ménages;
 Développer le mentorat, tutorat, coaching ...etc. afin d’aider les jeunes et les femmes en
particuliers à apprendre de leurs aînés.
 Donner la parole aux jeunes et les engager dans la formulation des politiques agricoles.
6. Quelles sont les politiques les plus appropriées pour lever les obstacles qui empêchent les
jeunes d’entreprendre et / ou de développer des activités dans l’agriculture et les services
connexes, la chaîne alimentaire, l’agroécologie et l’environnement alimentaire, ainsi que dans les
domaines de la nutrition et de l’innovation, en fonction de leurs compétences, aspirations, atouts
et contextes?
 Promotion de l’agroalimentaire, des chaînes de valeur et des modèles d’entrepreneuriat
efficaces
 Promouvoir l’autonomisation des jeunes femmes dans l’économie rurale

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 Faciliter l'accès aux ressources productives

 Créer un environnement commercial favorable pour les jeunes
 Mettre l’accent sur la diversification économique et le développement agricole
 Doter chaque pays d’une politique de promotion de l’emploi des jeunes dans l’agriculture
 Faciliter l’accès à l’éducation, à la formation et aux développement des compétences.
7. Quelles sont les politiques et les initiatives les plus appropriées pour faciliter la transition de
l’éducation au marché du travail et le recrutement et le maintien des jeunes dans les activités
liées à l’agriculture et aux systèmes alimentaires? Quels sont les nœuds et activités dans les
chaînes d'approvisionnement qui présentent le potentiel le plus élevé pour générer des emplois
décents pour les jeunes? Quels nouveaux types de formations sont nécessaires pour favoriser
davantage d'approches agroécologiques de l'agriculture?
La formation sur les TIC dans l’agriculture, le développement de l’approche chaînes de valeur et la
priorisation de la production durable, respectueuse de l’environnement.  
8. Quelle est l'ampleur des écarts de salaires en défaveur des jeunes, et en particulier des
jeunes femmes, dans l'agriculture et les systèmes alimentaires, et quelles sont les expériences
réussies en matière de suppression de ces écarts de salaire?
Les jeunes femmes participent à la main d’oeuvre agricole mais elles ne sont pas souvent renumérés.
On les retrouve dans les activités de transformation, de récolte, de sémis et de sarclage. On note une
certaine disparité dans le traitement salarial parmi les jeunes hommes et les jeunes femmes. Les
femmes aident leurs maris dans les exploitations mais elles ne reçoivent pas un salaire pour les
activités réalisées. Lorsqu’elles sont renumérés, c’est de façon dérisoire.
9. Quelles données sont nécessaires pour soutenir l'élaboration de politiques visant à renforcer
la participation et l'emploi des jeunes et à sensibiliser aux besoins, vulnérabilités et opportunités
spécifiques des jeunes défavorisés?
Les données nécessaires pour soutenir l'élaboration de politiques visant à renforcer la participation
et l'emploi des jeunes sont :
 Effectif/proportion des jeunes diplômés arrivant sur le marché de l’emploi et leurs profils et
qualifications.
 Effectif/proportion des jeunes sans emplois avec ou sans qualifications
 La demande en matière de main d’oeuvre agricole
 Le taux de couverture des productions agricoles au plan national
 Effectif/proportion des jeunes occupés dans le secteur agricole
 Des études sur les opportunités sur le marché du travail et des affaires : secteurs à fort
potentiel, secteur porteurs ...etc.

89. Maria Giulia de Castro, World Farmers’ Organisation, Italy

Dear colleagues,
please kindly find attached a contribution from WFO.

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With thanks and best regards,

MARIA GIULIA DE CASTRO

HLPE Report on “Promoting youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food systems”
Contribution from Coldiretti Giovani Impresa (Member of the World Farmers’ Organisation)

The XXI Century puts agriculture and agri-food back at the center of political strategic priorities: food
security and food safety came back to be elements of reflection and strategic planning for all States,
developed and developing countries. As consequence, immense pressures weigh on agriculture: a
growing world population, the fight against climate change, the urbanization and the loss of
agricultural soil, migration, unemployment are just some of the global challenges to which farmers
and policy makers are confronted every day.

Generational renewal in agriculture has acquired an important place in public and political discourse,
as it will be up to the new generation of farmers the challenge to feed the Planet. Nevertheless, their
number in the world is still very low.

In order to promote youth participation in agriculture, a transformation of the current agricultural

system and a re-interpretation of the role of farmers, especially in developing countries, is needed.
Such transformation should lead to make young farmer a real entrepreneur who competes on the
global market and who is not perceived just as foodstuff producer.

In addition to policies to ensure access to land, credit and infrastructures, we believe that specific
measures should be implemented:
1- Consolidation across the agri-food industry of the role of farmers. Usually in very
long supply chains farmers are often squeezed by other players, losing bargaining
power over large suppliers and buyers and their freedom to choose what to grow,
how to grow it, and for whom. A way to go in this direction is represented by short
supply chains that make farmers closer to consumers, recognizing them a fair
income. Another instrument are value chain contracts: bringing together all the
actors of the value chains (from farmers to retailers) can help farmers move up the
value chain and add more value to their work before selling the product to the rest
of the chain.
2- Promoting “multifunctional agriculture”, or the possibility for young farmers to
carry out different but agriculture-related activities on their farms, for example the
transformation of products and direct sales. Multifunctionality in agriculture has
many advantages: income integration, the possibility of carrying out innovative
activities, providing services to develop social and care services, including schools,
kindergartens, homes for the elderly, etc;
3- 3- Measures to support young farmers the first years of activity (start-up phase),
such as benefits and tax relief.
4- 4- Reliable infrastructures and connectivity, ensuring fair and equal access to
services and activities, in particular:
a. High-quality broadband;
b. A reliable supply of electricity, as well as easy access to the electricity grid;

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c. Essential infrastructures related to everyday life such as public transport, roads

and waste management services.
5- Life-long education and training in and for rural areas: promoting peer-to-peer
learning using new technologies, developing platforms allowing young people to
interact with others sharing the same entrepreneurial activity or interests and
developing new skills. In order to promote the participation of young farmers,
studying programs should be put in place taking into account specific sectorial needs,
including the timing of the production cycle. In this regard, the WFO Gymnasium
training programme can be mentioned as a capacity building programme aimed at
training young farmers to make them become future leaders in the agricultural
sector, as well as at creating a platform for enabling knowledge sharing and
interaction. More information can be found at https://www.wfooma.org/the-
gymnasium/
6- Knowledge Transfer through the creation of interactive platforms that allow
communication between young people in a simple and fast way. Encourage the
creation of a "best practice" bank that collects the experiences of young farmers in
solving common problems.
7- Support for Young Farmer Organizations: Recognizing the role of rural youth and
young farmers’ organizations and supporting them to promote policies aimed at
achieving a real generational renewal as well as an enabling environment both at
national, regional and international level.

90. Anisah Madden, Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance, Australia

Dear Moderator,
Please accept this contribution on behalf of the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA).
We have contributed our substantive comments on the scope of the report through the Civil Society
and Indigenous People's Mechanism (CSM) submission.
Here, we would just like to draw your attention to AFSA's recently published book: Farming
Democracy: Radically Transforming the Food System From the Ground Up. In this book, eight farms
open their homes, their operations, and their finances to show the efforts and challenges of building
a truly sustainable and just food system in Australia. The book can be purchased here.
https://afsa.org.au/afsa-merch/farming-democracy-2/ 

One of the featured farms in the book is Roly Poly Farm - a small-scale regenerative farm located in
Gidgegannup, located inthe hills of Perth, Western Australia (WA). Roly Poly Farm was started in
2018 by AFSA members Declan McGill and Melissa Charlick who were both 25 years old at the time. 
Their chapter is attached in this email, along with a testimony from Melissa on why they farm, and
what they need as young farmers in Australia. 
We further invite the HLPE to explore AFSA's website, to see a range of educational, advocacy -
including legal and regulatory advocacy work - and government submissions aimed at supporting our
members and all small scale, regenerative farmers in Australia to build a just, sustainable, and
resilient food system. https://afsa.org.au/about/

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We hope this contribution helps inform the HLPE project team's approach to their report. 
Please get in touch if you have any further questions.
Kind Regards,
Anisah Madden
AFSA International Liaison Officer
Attachments:
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/Roly
%20Poly_Farming%20Democracy%20%20-%20Final%20Edit%20December
%202018%20%281%29.pdf
http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-
hlpe/sites/default/files/discussions/contributions/Melissa_Charlick_Roly_Poly_Farm_Testimony.docx

91. Arun Baral, HarvestPlus, United States of America

Dear CFS-HLPE, 
Thank you for initiating and coordinating a consultative process for the development of the new
report, “Promoting youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food systems.” I
congratulate you on the scope of the report, which reflects an important and comprehensive effort
to: 1) take stock of issues relating to gender and youth in agriculture, food systems and nutrition, and
2) identify policies, programs and solutions to address these issues. This will be an extremely timely
report, especially given the significant percentage of youth in low- and middle-income countries and
the importance of nutrition for youth—especially young women. 
You rightly observe in the scope that “it is essential to develop systems, policies, and programmes
that encourage the engagement of youth in agriculture and food systems and related professions,
including research and innovation. Traditional subsistence agriculture is not attractive to the youth
and it is essential to transform agriculture and food systems in a way that is intellectually challenging
and economically rewarding.”
Biofortification is the process of increasing the micronutrient value of staple crops through
conventional breeding, and delivering these crops to smallholder farmers worldwide. Biofortification
is an innovative and impactful initiative focused on the nexus between youth, agriculture, food
systems, and nutrition. HarvestPlus (https://www.harvestplus.org/), is a global leader in
biofortification technology and policy that is focused on youth in several different segments,
including and not limited to: 1) agri-preneurs in biofortified foods value chains,  2) farmers, and 3)
consumers, particularly adolescent girls (the potential mothers of tomorrow) and young women of
child-bearing age who benefit the most from biofortified foods and enable future generations to be
more healthy and productive. Biofortification is also an equitable intervention because it focuses on
staple crops typically consumed by all household members; other nutrient-rich foods—such as
animal-source foods—are often reserved for male members of a household. 
HarvestPlus helps catalyze action by several CGIAR research centers and more than 400 other global
partners to develop and deliver biofortified crops and foods. As the CEO of HarvestPlus, I strongly
believe that biofortification offers an important opportunity to engage youth in farming and
agribusinesses. It is transformative not only for improving food systems through their backbones—

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i.e., staples—but also for providing a cost-effective and efficacious strategy for helping future
generations reach their full potential. It holds the potential to improve nutritional and health
outcomes for youth, improve cognitive skills and productivity. Additionally, biofortification can
engage youth in new farming technology and agribusinesses. 
Biofortification benefits from a strong nutritional and health evidence base, summarized and
updated in this document: https://www.harvestplus.org/evidence-document. This conventionally-
bred (i.e., non-GMO), high-yielding, and climate-smart nutrition solution is becoming widely
available, as shown in our global Biofortification Crop Map which shows where biofortified crops
have been released or are currently in testing phase:
https://www.harvestplus.org/sites/default/files/publications/HP_2019_CropMap_update_v5_0515.p
df.%C2%A0
To date, 24 countries have included biofortification in their national policies, and biofortified crops
are benefiting almost 40 million people globally as a result of the delivery efforts led by HarvestPlus
and its partners (see details in our latest annual report: https://www.harvestplus.org/knowledge-
market/in-the-news/catalyzing-biofortified-food-systems-2018-annual-report).
Some examples of our work with youth from Zimbabwe and Nigeria are included below:
https://www.harvestplus.org/knowledge-market/in-the-news/reaching-sky-addressing-hidden-
hunger-sky-brands-zimbabwe
https://www.harvestplus.org/knowledge-market/in-the-news/atinuke-lebile-young-agropreneur
%E2%80%99s-quest-impact.%C2%A0
Given the strong track record and widening acceptance of biofortification, and its proven potential
for engaging and empowering youth, I recommend that you include biofortification under question 4
of the scope as a strategy for transforming agriculture and food systems in developing countries to
make them more attractive to youth.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have follow-up questions. It would also be our pleasure to
share additional resources and participate in future steps of the consultative process if that would
prove helpful.  
Yours Sincerely, 
Arun Baral 

92. Teresa Maisano, CSM Youth Working Group

Please find attached CSM Youth Working Group contribution to the HLPE e-consultation on the scope
of the Report “Promoting youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food systems”.

Contribution of the Civil Society and Indigenous Peoples’ Mechanism (CSM) Youth Working Group
to the HLPE e-consultation on the scope of the report “Promoting youth engagement and
employment in agriculture and food systems” (January 2020)

The world is at a crossroads. The number of food insecure and malnourished is rising, current food
systems are broken, communities and ecosystems are facing unprecedented loss of biodiversity, and
climate change has become a crisis, dramatically changing our relations with natural resources and

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territories, and forcing millions to leave their homes and families. We cannot ignore longer these
huge challenges. What will be left for us as youth and future generations? 
The Civil Society and Indigenous Peoples’ Mechanism (CSM) warmly welcomes both the CFS’s
collective process to reflect on and engage with the critical issue of youth and the HLPE’s efforts to
seek out our views on the scope of their report.  As CSM, and in particular as the CSM Youth
Constituency, we have been among the strongest advocates for the CFS to adopt a Youth work-
stream. We believe strongly in this process and the possibility it affords to strengthen the social
capital of youth as active members of our communities and territories; to promote and support our
agency, autonomy, and self-determination, as well as our full and sustainable inclusion in governance
and policy-making processes. We reaffirm our commitment to engage comprehensively, and with the
full scope of our diverse constituencies, in this report process and the policy engagement that will
follow. 
This submission is on behalf of the Youth Constituency of the CSM.  The Youth Constituency of the
CSM gathers smallholders and family farmers, indigenous peoples, fisherfolks, agricultural and food
workers, women, landless, consumers, pastoralists and urban food insecure from around the
globe. Youth have a plurality of understandings, experiences, knowledges and expectations about the
future – but together we have common concerns and a common vision of the path towards
solutions. Together we defend the explicit recognition of the different constituencies within youth
while also presenting this shared contribution to the HLPE on our vision for the scope of the
“Promoting Youth Engagement and Employment in Agriculture and Food Systems” report.
The submission highlights what we envision as the scope of the HLPE report. We strongly believe that
the report should reflect the complex rights, needs and demands of youth around the globe. The
report should be holistic and inclusive, representing youth not as a potential workforce for an
industrial global food system – but as a dynamic and diverse set of actors with ideas for policy, desire
for engagement and passion for shaping a more just, ecological, sustainable, localized, and diverse
food system. As youth are dynamic actors in local communities and territories, the scope of the
report needs to address public policies that ensure permanence, retention and return to the rural
areas of young people, decent employment, decent salaries and decent working conditions as well as
access to territories, to natural resources and to the means of production, including the ownership of
land and natural resources such as water and land. We can no longer ignore the huge challenges of
climate change, loss of biodiversity and ecological destruction: they are the main drivers of hunger
and malnutrition for present and future generations. The Youth Constituency of the CSM believes
that these questions which are so central to food security and nutrition, and so central to our lives
and communities and future generations must be addressed in the report. We ask that the HLPE
report be responsive to contributions the CSM Youth Constituency – and the HLPE ensure that the
drafting process of the report is participatory and inclusive of the voices of the young small food
producers who are also those most affected by food insecurity and malnutrition.

1. Why is there a need to promote youth engagement and employment in agriculture and
food systems? What are the key issues and opportunities?

Youth are political subjects and have the right, capacity, and agency to build spaces of solidarity,
inclusion, and dignity. We learn from and exchange with different struggles, movements, institutions
and alternative voices. Through practicing and sharing our diverse knowledges and cultures, including
indigenous knowledges and practices, we resist growing corporatization while co-creating life-

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affirming worlds and futures by building strong connections to the land, water, seeds, plants, and all
living beings.
More than a need to promote youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food systems,
there is a need to support youth driven models of engagement and employment in agriculture and
food systems and to make space for youth to be active policy-makers on issues concerning
agriculture and food systems.  Youth around the world already want to engage in and work in
agriculture and food systems. We have innovative ideas on how to care for ourselves, others and the
planet through agriculture and employment in food systems. We want to grow good and nourishing
food in sustainable ways. We are energetic, vibrant and engaged. However, in most places around
the globe we lack the resources for this work. We lack access to land, to seeds, and to water. We lack
access to education in agriculture and food systems. We lack access to remunerative markets. We
are unable to pursue agroecological production methods. We are forced out of rural areas to urban
centers to look for employment. We lack access to decision-making spaces. We face a present
already impacted by climate change, and an unsure future. We face criminalization and
marginalization when we seek to better our future, the future of others, and the future of the
planet. 
All of this is a direct violation of our rights as youth – rights recognized in the UN Declaration on the
Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas, as well as in the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the
UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), General Comment No. 12 to the ICESCR on the right to food
and General Recommendation No. 34 to the CEDAW on the rights of rural women.
There are a number of issues and opportunities that are key for youth:
 Migration: Many Youth today are forced to move from rural areas. Sometimes we are forced
to move to new countries and territories, other times to urban areas in our own country. We
are forced to moved due to: the exploitation of our labour; our inability to earn livelihood
with dignity (either because of a lack of good employment in rural areas or a lack of
resources to grow our own food); the impacts of the climate crisis; protracted crisis; and a
whole host of other structural reasons. We need to analyze the root causes of this lack of
opportunity and the need for migration and how the current industrial agriculture and food
systems, the climate crisis, protracted crises and neoliberal policies (as well as their legacy)
have driven so many youth away from food production. 
 Access to Resources: Access to land and productive resources is a key issue – land grabbing
and speculation, industrialization of rural areas, monopolization of natural resources have all
driven youth from agricultural livelihoods.
 Agroecology:  Many Youth want to pursue agriculture – but we know industrial agriculture is
a dead end. We need transition plans away from destructive and exploitative industrial
agriculture and towards agroecological approaches. Agroecology is both innovative and
traditional. It offers a path forward for feeding the future. But it must be supported.  
 Social and Political Dimensions: The report must focus on social and political dimensions of
agriculture and food systems, not just technocratic, economic perspectives. 
 Climate Crisis: The climate crisis is a key issue and opportunity for youth to be primary actors
in mitigation and adaptation strategies.
 Decent, Dignified Work and Livelihoods: Work should not simply be equated with waged
employment, but rather as a range of productive activities that support livelihoods. Work in
agriculture and food systems should be safe, should support individual and community

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health and well-being, be fairly remunerative, meaningful, and allow opportunities for
creativity and leadership. Work is not simply an economic activity, but a social and ecological
activity, and these dimensions should be considered together.

2. How do the evolution and transitions of agriculture, food systems and nutrition affect
youth engagement and employment? How can agriculture and food systems
employment become more attractive for youth, especially considering the rural-urban
continuum? What would be needed to improve standards of living and services in rural
areas and mid-sized towns, to retain youth and young families?

The ongoing processes of industrialization, financialization and neoliberalization of agriculture and

food systems have dramatically changed the relationship between communities and their natural
resources and territories and have led to an unprecedented loss of biodiversity and the current crisis-
level global warming. The ecological systems at the basis of our livelihoods, as young fisherfolks,
gatherers, hunters, family farmers and pastoralists, are degraded; the knowledge systems we depend
on are threatened. This evolution of the food system has affected small-scale producers’ access,
control and ownership over land, water, all natural and material resources and means of production,
threatened remunerative prices for agricultural products due to competition in the globalized market
and encroachment on territorial markets.
Although the majority of agriculture still takes place in rural areas, these effects have been felt in
rural and urban areas alike. In urban and peri-urban areas, gentrification, lack of livable wages,
degradation of arable land and inequitable agriculture and food policies have increased our food and
job insecurity and have further kept us, urban youth, from being landowners and environmental
stewards. As young rural dwellers, we have been forced to leave our homes and families in search of
decent work and working conditions in spite of our embeddedness and pride in our communities.
This has disrupted the conservation and transmission of indigenous and territorial agricultural
knowledge from generation to generation.
Many youth are proud to live in the countryside and to make a living with fishing, gathering, hunting,
farming and pastoralism, and we want to continue to be able to do so. Youth in urban areas share
similar visions as their rural counterparts. Both rural and urban youth want to be able to stay in their
territories and produce food in harmony with the ecological systems they and their children depend
on. The livelihoods of traditional, small-scale and/or family production are thus already attractive for
us, but they have to become remunerative and socially valued again, to be viable life choices for
us. For example, many youth in agriculture have also begun to explore how to build, engage and
support solidarity economies; that is, economies that are not based solely on maximizing profit, but
that consider the social and ecological dimensions of productive activity, and seek to build healthy,
resilient and inclusive communities. 

To assure permanence, retention and return to the rural areas of young people, and to ensure
decent livelihoods in urban areas, we, as youth, thus need access, control, ownership and autonomy
over land, water, natural and material resources and means of production to process and value our
works and products through the local knowledge and capacity already existing within our
communities. Market access is a key policy area, particularly in rural areas and mid-sized towns.
Territorial and localized markets need to be strengthened and the engagement and access of youth
to markets further analyzed. This analysis should consider the diversity of youth backgrounds,

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perspectives, needs, and aspirations. For us, as youth of the CSM, a transformation of smallholder
production or pastoralism into entrepreneurship or large-scale agribusiness will not raise the
attractiveness of agricultural employment.
We need a just transition in food systems through the spreading of Agroecology. Agroecology has the
capacity to make engagement and employment in agriculture and food systems attractive for youth.
Models of production rooted in agroecological principles to achieve food sovereignty – like collective,
participatory agriculture and food systems based on peasant rights – can improve standards of living
and services in rural areas and mid-sized towns. The roles of youth in these processes should be
recognised, supported and further strengthened. In order to take our role as the main protagonists in
current and future food systems, young people need access to and support for agroecology training,
for example through horizontal education networks that successfully engage youth and equip us with
agroecological and traditional knowledge. See, for examples in Argentina, the article by Juarez, P.,
Balázs, B., Trentini, F., Korzenszky, A. and Becerra, L. (2015, listed in references below). Below, you
also find a list of also case studies on youth engagement and education.
Generally, instead of building a false dichotomy between town and countryside or pitting us against
each other, coherent policies are needed that engage and support the diversity of young rural
smallholders as much as young urban food insecure or youth engaged in urban food production
processes.

3. What governance transformations are necessary to enable and encourage youth

participation in agriculture and food systems, and what actions are required to equip
youth with the necessary skills and confidence in fully engaging in these decision-
making processes?

Governance systems today are faced with the challenge of managing complexity. Food systems are
complex, dynamic systems with ecological, social, cultural, economic, and political dimensions. A
number of governance transformations are necessary to enable and encourage youth participation in
agriculture and food systems.
Governance Needs to be Transformed To Be Intersectoral and Multilevel
Currently, the governance of food systems is based on individual, only loosely or un-related sectoral
policies (i.e. the separate governance of agriculture, health, urban planning), which fail to achieve a
coherent approach to food. Yet, the complexity of food systems calls for a cross-sectoral, multilevel
governance approach that is able to integrate the different sectors of the food system as much as the
different scales and spaces at which the food system plays out. This also means that, rather than
governing rural and urban areas separately, governance approaches should consider the linkages
between rural and urban. Only in this way can we, as the variety of youth engaged in the diversity of
sectors forming the food system, engage, together, in the governance of our common food system.
Governance Spaces Need to Make Room for Diverse Youth Participation
Opening up governance, law, and policy spaces to youth, and facilitating our meaningful participation
is key. Governance systems should recognize and value the essential role of youth as economic,
social and cultural actors as well as the leadership, agency, autonomy and diversity of youth in food
security and nutrition related processes. Governance systems should develop an inclusive,
transversal and cross-cutting approach toward youth in agriculture and food systems.

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Governance systems, at international, national, and local levels, must ensure strategic intersectional
youth engagement by ensuring the participation of youth from all sectors relevant to agriculture and
food systems. Recognizing the intersectional identities of youth, participation models should ensure
representation across gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, culture, and social and physical
ability. Governance systems should focus on realizing equity, including the pivotal role of indigenous
youth. Quotas should be instituted to ensure space for youth – and youth should be supported in this
participation, including through financial support and as discussed below with educational
opportunities, to ensure our ability to participate.
But Youth Need More than Just a Right of Participation 
Including youth in governance spaces must be more than symbolic; it should fully include us in
agenda-setting, research, decision-making, implementation and monitoring processes. Participation
of youth in law and policy development, implementation and monitoring is our right and is a
necessity for the development of good law and policy. As young civil society and indigenous peoples,
we are very aware and critical of the exploitation of youth participation as mere tokenism; we are
very aware and critical of the pitfalls of multi-stakeholder platforms and other power-blind formats
of superficial participation. Thus, when we demand participation, we do not only demand a seat at
the table, but also that what we say at the table shapes policy development, implementation and
monitoring – instead of just legitimizing the decisions of powerful actors that had already been taken
prior to our participation.
Where laws and policies directly concern youth, however, even more is needed.  Where policies and
laws are directed at youth, their development, implementation and monitoring must be youth driven
and youth led – with the support of other law and policymakers.
For example, in NYC, Youth as young as 16 are able to run and join community boards and become
decision makers on committees such as committees on land use and discretionary funds.
(https://www.manhattanbp.nyc.gov/communityboards/). 
Governance Systems Must be Human Rights-based
Our rights as Youth, women, indigenous peoples, peasants must be acknowledged, protected and
central to all governance systems. Rights-based governance spaces require the meaningful inclusion
of those voices most affected in all aspects of law and policy making. 
Tools for Youth Engagement
For youth to build the necessary skills and confidence to fully engage in governance processes,
education and training are essential. Theoretical and practical civic education should be available to
all youth. Accessible practical and theoretical food system education is also integral to ensure
informed decision-making. Grassroots and peasant agroecology schools and popular education
models are already supporting youth to develop our leadership and governance capacities. Youth-led
education and training initiatives should be identified, encouraged and supported.
One example is the youth program TRACKS, at Trent University, in Ontario, Canada. TRACKS, or TRent
Aboriginal Cultural Knowledge and Science, is an educational program which provides hands-on
experiences for youth interested in the intersections of Indigenous and Western sciences.
https://www.tracksprogram.ca/ . Another example is the Agroecology School and Rural Peasant
University System of MOCASE-LVC in Argentina. See country case studies below.

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4. What are the most promising pathways to transform current agriculture and the food
systems in developing countries to make them more attractive to the youth? 

We recognize that agro-industrial production models are not only unable to respond to persistent
hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition, but that they have contributed to the creation of these
ongoing injustices. They have driven the decrease of biodiversity, dietary diversity and nutritional
quality. They have driven environmental destruction and global warming.
A fundamental transformation of industrial food systems is desperately needed. Agroecology offers a
truly transformative approach towards sustainable food systems. The 2019 CFS HLPE report
“Agroecological and Other Innovations for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems that Enhance
Food Security and Nutrition” clearly shows there are two distinct sets of approaches to food system
transformation. Industrial innovations such as climate smart agriculture, sustainable intensification,
and new biotechnologies attempt to make incremental reforms to a broken and failing industrial
food system. Agroecological approaches are truly innovative, as they offer a holistic understanding of
the food system, can be adapted to any context, and provide a range of transition pathways to
diverse and resilient food systems. They also respond to food system governance challenges.
Agroecological approaches to governance include youth small-scale food producers and our
knowledge, practices and organizations. The HLPE report on Youth could seize the opportunity and
strengthen the obvious synergy between the two CFS policy convergence processes to be concluded
by 2020: the CFS Food Systems and Nutrition Voluntary Guidelines and the Agroecology Policy
Recommendations.
The most promising pathways to transform the current agriculture and food system in a way that
engages Youth are in line with the following principles:
A. Centrality of people: Recognize the centrality of youth, in particular small-scale food
producers and women, and our agency in shaping food systems and nutritional outcomes.
B. Realization of the right to adequate food: The reshaping of food systems should be based on
and contribute to the realization of the right to adequate food for all, with a particular focus on the
needs of youth and the challenges we face. This requires systemic rather than siloed sectoral change,
and overall policy coherence with the right to food.
C. Healthy diets require a healthy planet: Food production, preparation, distribution, and
exchange should be kept within planetary boundaries, respecting and maintaining the Earth’s
ecosystems and regenerative capacities. Quality and safety of food (composition and origin) should
be key pillars in the transition. Biodiversity and traditional varieties are the foundation of dietary
diversity and should be protected and enhanced. This is key for the rights and flourishing of current
and future generations.

D. Interrelatedness of human rights and holistic transitions: The health-food nexus should be
addressed in close conjunction with the livelihoods and ecological foundations of healthy and
sustainable food systems. Agroecological approaches to food systems are the best suited to achieve a
holistic transition that respects and realizes human rights.
E. Equality and non-discrimination: Existing inequalities and structures of oppression should be
overcome in order to guarantee the full realization of the rights of discriminated, disadvantaged and
marginalized groups. These are in particular: youth, refugees and displaced people, disaster affected
communities, elderly, and groups marginalized on the basis of gender, caste, race or religion. The

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transition to healthy and sustainable food systems should be guided by this principle and informed
by the experiences, knowledge, and perspectives from these groups.
F. Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Recognize and affirm the impacts of colonization, dispossession
of lands, territories and resources, and the urgent need to respect and promote the inherent rights
of Indigenous Peoples which derive from their political, economic and social structures and from
their cultures, spiritual traditions, histories and philosophies, especially their rights to their lands,
territories and resources.
G. Women’s rights: healthy and sustainable food systems will never be achieved without
ensuring the full respect, protection and fulfilment of women’s rights. Young women and women
play a central role in food systems. We are active political subjects, agents of our own change and
development, and must be recognized as having the right to self-determination over our bodies, and
our lives, and to live free from violence. In particular, women have the right to be free from exposure
to hazardous chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics and toxics related to food production to
ensure reproductive health and the health and wellness of children.
H. Recognize and support care work: Care work – such as cooking, feeding and breast-feeding –
plays a central role in food systems but so far, its value and importance for healthy and sustainable
food systems is completely ignored. Having adequate time for care work related to food, as well as a
more equal distribution of it so that it is not based on the exploitation of women and girls, is
paramount to achieve truly healthy and sustainable food systems.
I. Food traditions and cultural heritage: Protect and enhance traditions, knowledge, and
cultural heritages associated with food production, exchange and consumption, with due regard to
their dynamic nature and intergenerational transmission. Ensure the cultural adequacy of available,
accessible, and affordable dietary options.
J. Participation, sovereignty and self-determination: Respect the plurality of world views, and
Indigenous Peoples’, communities’, and individuals’ rights to self-determination, autonomy, and free
and prior consent. Recognize and protect the intrinsic relationship between territory, food systems,
and food as common good, as well as the existence of other noncommercial forms of production and
exchange (indigenous, social, and solidarity economy). Acknowledge the power differences between
different actors in food systems and consciously address these in the implementation of these
principles, ensuring meaningful participation of groups most affected.
The engagement and retention of Youth as real transformative actors in the reshuffle of current
food systems requires the following actions:
A. Real Agrarian Reform: Agrarian reform should be ensured, including the right to territories
(land, water, forests, fishing, foraging, hunting) and the secure access to and control over productive
resources for Youth. The right to freely save, plant, exchange, sell and breed seeds, phytogenetic
resources (plant and animal species) and livestock should be restored. Regulations (i.e. sanitary laws)
impeding the normal functioning of local and territorial markets and diversity should be removed.
Resource management and food production should be inclusive and responsible, and since any
distribution of productive resources implies a gender power relationship, the agrarian reform must
include women as fundamental protagonists.
Concerning urban access to land, urban youth are finding innovative ways to access land in urban
areas and these should be supported by governments, through regulatory reforms and financial and
technical support. Strategies to support and develop urban agriculture systems can enrich and
supplement urban food systems. 

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B. Solidarity Economies: Social and solidarity-based economy rules should be instituted,

determined by small-scale food producers-led policies inclusive for Youth participation. Regulations,
policies, and laws should be categorized according to the size and mode of production of enterprises
(i.e. Small agroindustries/cooperatives making benefits out of agroecological productions are
affected by having to comply to the same sanitary laws as big enterprises).
C. End Violence against Communities: Policy measures should be put in place to prevent and
end state, parastatal and private interests’ ongoing violence against Indigenous and rural
communities, Youth peasant farmers, women and associated social formations (including not only
physical violence but also economic, environmental and cultural violence in the form of land, water
and seed grabs).
D. Decent Working Conditions: Decent work conditions should be established for Youth by
respecting the rights of all workers, including the rights of migrant workers, the right to union
representation, and the rights to collective bargaining and to living wages. They should also ensure
fair, safe and healthy working environments that are free from any form of discrimination, violence,
and/or harassment. They should also include access to public services.
E. Education and Training: Education, training and formation are fundamental dimensions of
agroecology. Public research and training for development should be reoriented to build on the
agency of Youth peasants and respond to their needs (training in transition practices and
agroecological production between peasants and rural extension technicians). Public policies should
promote participatory research schemes given the key role that small-scale food producers play in
research and development
F. Women’s Rights: The rights of women in all their intersecting gender identities should be
protected, respected, re-affirmed and fulfilled while pursuing gender equality and justice, by the
medium of policies or participation quota and of resources targeted specifically for women
 This explicitly relates to female autonomy and the construction of spaces of equal
participation between men and women by incorporating respect, care, solidarity, shared
responsibility, by ensuring equal income and shared power, and by putting an end to gender
violence and sexism;
 It also relates to equal access to territories (land, water, forests, fishing, foraging, hunting)
and public services; and
 Agroecology must be recognized for its potential to transform social relations and traditional
sexual division of labour, by promoting practices that are accessible to women and youth and
increase their access to resources and their decision-making power at all levels.  

G. Public Policies: Public policies and investments should be focused on the strengthening of
territorial agri-food systems, including:
 Investment in public services, such as in public health (through a preventive approach), in
universal and free education, libraries and extension services, is the most concrete way of
contributing to the quality of life and reducing poverty among youth. Public services are
crucial to development of healthy inclusive communities. Public services also create decent
employment opportunities and jobs;
 the strengthening of territorial markets, shortening of food supply chains, and building of
direct consumer-producer relations and markets that incentivize youth to engage in
agroecological production models;

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 (local/territorial) public procurement schemes that are inclusive, support communities, their
cooperatives and producer associations, while creating positive opportunities for Youth to
distribute healthy food to the places where it is most needed: nursing homes, maternity and
recovery centers, hospitals and schools;
 the provision of infrastructure needed for the local and territorial processing of farm produce
(local mills, abattoirs, micro-dairies, community food processing facilities, waste recycling,
renewable energy systems etc.) to create decent jobs and wealth for youth within territories
whilst reducing overall carbon and ecological footprints;
 an inclusive and responsible approach to the provision of urban and rural infrastructure in
territories, as well as an approach to urban, rural and territorial planning that consults the
vision of both urban and rural youth. Appropriate road and communications infrastructure
are key to providing access to territorial markets and extension services, also allowing for the
marketing of a greater diversity of fresh products; and
 the generation of decent jobs in new sectors associated with sustainable lifestyles, that
support the flourishing of local communities and territories.
 
5. What are the best strategies for fully engaging youth, in particular young women, in
opportunities to acquire adequate skills and learning opportunities to further develop
their knowledge and enable them to be leaders in innovative agriculture and the
transformation of food systems? 

Youth, as a heterogeneous group, experience different barriers to full engagement in agriculture and
food systems which include, among others, growing disillusionment to conventional, large-scale
agriculture and lack of access to decision making spaces, organized markets, requisite trainings and
financial services. There is a significant gender dimension as well. Women are more likely to face
constraints in accessing resources and services including land and markets. Other systemic and
cultural barriers are also more likely to keep women away from accessing educational and training
opportunities. 
There are several basic strategies that can fully engage youth in opportunities to acquire adequate
skills and learning opportunities. Integration of agroecological food system approaches and practical
food education in school curricula at all stages, starting at a young age, will lay the foundation for
future food system leaders. There should be a variety of pathways for skills and knowledge
development through quality higher education. The needed strategies should further entail
horizontal exchanges of knowledge and horizontal learning arrangements, such as peasant-to-
peasant, fisher-to-fisher, pastoralist-to-pastoralist, consumer-and-producer knowledge exchanges, as
well as intergenerational exchanges between generations and across different traditions, including
the exchange of new ideas. Social media platforms are key to raise awareness of and promote
engagement, as well as for peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and education, but some youth lack
stable access to digital infrastructure.
Moving a step further from including agroecological approaches in school curricula, there should also
be an increased focus on providing vocational, business and entrepreneurial skills training in food
system activities to young people. However, this training needs to move away from traditional
business school models based on a narrow vision of business that focuses on economic growth and
profit maximization. Business should be reconceptualized as a productive economic activity, where
the economy includes ecological and socio-cultural dimensions. Diverse forms of enterprise,
ownership, labour, finance, and markets such as worker or producer cooperatives, social enterprises,

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barter and gifting systems, community supported agriculture, traditional and indigenous economic
systems, community credit systems, and so on should all be in the core curriculum in business skills
training, to move away from “business as usual”. See
https://communityeconomies.org/about/community-economies-research-and-practice for more
information.
In order to encourage participation of women in training spaces, establishing quotas can be an
effective step. There is also a need to ensure that women get equal legal rights, especially with
regard to ownership of land, inheritance and income.

6. What are the most appropriate policies to remove obstacles to empower youth initiate
and/or upscale activities in agriculture and related services, in the food supply chain, in
agroecology, and in the food environment, as well as in nutrition and innovation, in
accordance to their skills, aspirations, assets and contexts? 

As Youth Constituency of the CSM, we demand the removal of those policies and practices
contributing to social inequalities and the alarming rates of hunger and malnutrition in the world.
These harmful policies and practices include land grabbing, exploitation, discrimination and
destruction of our planet which continue to undermine the livelihoods of our generation as well as of
future generations. They are key obstacles to the empowerment of Youth.
In order to remove these obstacles, we demand strong human rights-based processes that
acknowledge the participation and rights of Youth as a cornerstone of food systems, food sovereignty
and nutrition and ensure the active and inclusive engagement of young women and men across all
sectors. 
As the Youth Constituency of the CSM, we see a number of obstacles to the empowerment of youth.
They include, among others:
 increasing food insecurity and malnutrition
 loss of biodiversity
 the climate crisis
 changing communities’ relation with natural resources and territories
 forced migration of millions leaving their homes and families
 land grabbing
 exploitation, destruction of environmental resources
 marginalization of and pressure on small-scale producers, including family farmers,
indigenous peoples, fisherfolks, pastoralists in the globalized market economy
 high rates of youth unemployment

In order to remove these obstacles, we must lay down the basis for strong human rights-based policy
dialogues acknowledging the participation and rights of Youth as a cornerstone of public policies on
food systems, food sovereignty and nutrition and ensure an active and inclusive engagement of
young women.  This requires the establishment of coherent public policies conducive to our self-
determination as youth, and our full inclusion in the governance of our families, communities and
organizations. 
Public policies, with the goal of removing obstacles to Youth empowerment, should focus on:

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 inclusion of Youth
o ensuring Youth involvement at all levels of decision making, implementation,
monitoring and evaluation; this includes the direct participation of families and
communities in political decisions, in the aim to find the best solutions in accordance
with their own vision and socio-cultural background;
o building and facilitating a united alliance of Youth;
o allowing Youth to advance in the way we define ourselves in terms of ways and
means of production, in health, in education, in recreation, social services, access to
local markets, to native seeds; and
o strengthening the gender perspective, particularly for women youth:
 by targeting discriminations among against women and youth inside food
systems;
 by implementing women’s rights and gender equality; and
 by protecting, respecting, fulfilling and re-affirming the rights of women in all
their intersecting gender identities (including race, sexuality, origin, religion,
social status, abilities, age) in all policies. 

 transforming agri-food systems and production processes

o shifting away from the current industrialized agri-food system of production and
consumption in food;
o adopting policies against the dumping of cheap food, the control of global agri-food
markets by few large corporations and biotechnological innovations that support
genetic modification and the dematerialization of seeds and genetic resources;
o adopting a cyclical view of the production process, involving youth at all levels of
production, as well as taking into account the cyclical aspect of production in time
and its effect on present and future generations;
o strengthening practices that protect and enhance biodiversity;
o shifting the paradigm of agroecology from an ‘alternative’ to being a viable and truly
transformational pathway;
o prioritizing and funding agroecology research;.
o supporting local and territorial markets to increase food producers’ direct influence
on prices and modes of production; and
o supporting territorial initiatives, like community banks, solidarity funds, local seed
banks and autonomous funds that protect farmers against financialization and
dematerialization in the food system.

 providing engagement and employment opportunities

o providing opportunities for Youth to create job opportunities (instead of just being
workers), by guaranteeing decent working conditions, decent incomes and decent
employment conditions
o access to financing programs, credit and technical support

 stopping criminalization and corruption

o adopting stringent laws against criminalization and murdering of human rights
defenders and community leaders;

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o building capacity to ensure youth voices and advocacy on structural causes of

dispossession and reinforcing the importance of autonomy over our own diverse and
territorial markets; and
o eliminate corruption at local, national and international levels.

 securing access, control, and ownership over land, water, natural and material resources
for Youth
o adopting policies and actions against and land grabbing, the exploitation of oceans,
rivers, lakes and marine resources;
o implementing an agrarian reform based on food sovereignty: secure Youth’s access,
control, ownership and autonomy over land, water, all natural and material
resources and means of production;
o adopting inclusive and responsible resource management and food production
models; and
o enusuring gender-equal access to territories (land, water, forests, fishing, foraging,
hunting) and public services.

 protecting youth from the effects of conflicts, wars and occupations and including youth in
peace processes

 linking struggles and policy processes

o creating an enabling environment and establish linkages, synergies and convergence
processes between local to global struggles of peasants, pastoralist, fisher-folk, tribal
and indigenous communities and their rights; and
o implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People
Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP).

7. What are the most appropriate policies and initiatives to facilitate the education-to-
labour market transition and youth recruitment and retention in agriculture and food
systems’ related activities? What nodes and activities in supply chains have the highest
potential for generating decent jobs for youth? What new types of training are needed
foster more agroecological approaches to farming?

We cannot think about young people only as employees of the industrial labor force: we feel proud
to live in the countryside, to produce, to generate our own income and to contribute to the economy
by being job providers as well as seekers. However, a transformation in the perception of Youth is
required if we are to be able to make a respected living fishing, gathering, hunting, farming and
engaging in pastoralism.
Importantly, we need access to non-exploitative financing programs. Youth need access to
appropriate credit and technical support for the permanence, retention and return to the rural areas
of young people, and to support urban youth to develop food system enterprises. As young people,
we often have to cover our livelihood costs (i.e. school, food, clothing, rent) or contribute financially

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to support our families. This forces us to opt out of policy and agricultural work given the expectation
to provide unpaid volunteer hours or receive small stipends.
To promote our engagement and involvement in agriculture and food systems, there needs to be a
promotion of intergenerational exchanges, including the exchanges between traditions, communities
and the provision of opportunities to learn and build on historical memory, traditions and people’s
knowledges.

8. What is the extent of wage discrepancies against youth and women in agriculture and
food systems, and what are some successful experiences in removing such wage
differentials? 

As previously mentioned, Youth is not one unique homogeneous group and should be understood
through an inclusive, transversal and cross-cutting approach. The challenges faced by young
individuals are determined at the intersections of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, culture,
social and physical ability, constituency and continent. Youth engage in food systems that are shaped
by power imbalances and patriarchy, where women, especially in rural areas, are the most affected.
In this sense, wage differentials have greater impact on women than on men. This is due to an unfair
division of labour which generates an unequal sharing of the burden of reproductive and unpaid care
work. The burden of cooking, feeding and caring for family members is unfairly put on women and
girls. This unpaid household work constitute 50% of economic activities globally, and makes possible
the reproduction of life, communities and society in general. Yet, this work not acknowledged, and is
taken for granted. The role of women both in rural and urban areas needs to be recognized and
addressed, including through sharing in the care of all members of the households, communities and
societies.
Moreover, women play an essential role in transforming rural areas and the care of non-human living
forms (e.g. seeds, poultry, livestock, fish and flora). The current industrial agri-food model has led to
an impoverishment of small-scale food producers, leading to not only the migration of youth from
rural to urban areas, but also to men leaving their households or agricultural activities to search for
better economic opportunities. This is often associated with a feminization of agriculture, mostly for
women and their families’ own subsistence, increasing women’s unpaid work.
It is challenging to ensure the right to food and nutrition, as well as healthy diets. Women often lack
time due to the many roles they take on, from labour in the market place to productive and
reproductive work at home, to activism. The lack of time and the lack of access to healthy food are
disabling factors for many young women to realize their right to food and nutrition.
More broadly, neo- and post-colonial regimes still sustain an unequal international division of labour;
and certain social and ethnic groups are confined to slavery conditions in agricultural production
systems. This generates wage disparities directly affecting Youth.  In addition, the digitalization of
food and agriculture has negatively impacted wage disparities. Markets that were once places of
sociability are now replaced by e-markets, where customers choses between hundreds of products,
disconnected from the people and cultural values that produced them. Seeds are becoming data
stored on clouds but can’t be exchanged in real life. New payment programs are inaccessible to many
people, especially to the Youth. As production is more fragmented and delocalized, young food
producers become wageworkers for huge agro-food companies instead of self-sufficient producers.

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As the CSM Youth Constituency, we believe that this report and the overall Youth policy convergence
process should not only rely on “best practices” and successes stories without addressing the root
causes of problems. Recommendations should look at the challenges and fill in current policy gap to
strengthen the social capital of Youth in communities and territories. 
In this sense, agroecology has proven to transform gender relations and promote just and local
economies. Agroecology benefits women and young people, who gain respect and are valued for
their work, and empowered in their communities. Several experiences that combine agroecological
and feminist approaches have proven to be very successful. Some are only women-led projects, such
as Jinwar, the women’s ecological village in Rojava, while others are family projects, such as the Land
Dyke Feminist Family Farm, in Taiwan.
 
9. What data is necessary to support policy development to enhance youth engagement
and employment, and to create awareness of the specific needs, vulnerabilities and
opportunities of disadvantaged youth?

The inclusion and engagement of Youth in policy development requires people-centered approaches
in relation to data collection, data ownership and knowledge sharing. Both qualitative and
quantitative data needs to comply with the de-concentration of knowledge and with the objective to
share, value and collectively develop knowledge, not only about youth, but with, by, and for youth. 
We must promote horizontal exchanges from peasant-to-peasant, fisher-to-fisher, and pastoralist-to-
pastoralist, and intergenerational exchanges. We must also promote exchanges between traditions
and communities, as well as opportunities to learn and build on historical memory, traditions and
people’s knowledges.
The data gathering process aiming to support policy development in favor of youth engagement and
employment should address Youth as agents of change in their lives, and not simply as objects of
policies. The data collection process should therefore be designed using inclusive and participatory
approaches and methodologies. Youth should be actively engaged in shaping the scope, questions
and the methodology of research, through their full participation in research steering committees.
The CFS principle of prioritising the voices of those most affected by food insecurity and malnutrition
should be followed in regards to youth-related research. In addition, research should not only focus
on youth employment and engagement in food systems, but youth as members of communities. This
more holistic focus will allow a fuller understanding of the specific needs, vulnerabilities and
opportunities of youth, as their capacities are influenced by current economic, social, and political
systems.
As big data and analytics systems become more complex and powerful, it is essential for
governments to put in place strong regulatory structures that protect youth data from being
exploited. Data collection and processing practices should protect Youth constituencies and
communities’ rights to ownership and use of their data. Transparency and accountability around data
collection, ownership, and use is essential. The data needs to explore the possible path of inclusion
and engagement of youth in policy making processes on all levels (local, national, regional and
global). 
We should take a strengths- or asset-based approach to research: Youth already have concrete
examples and experiences from local territories and communities, including lessons learned through
the study and practice of agroecology and food sovereignty, of territorial markets and solidarity

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economies. This knowledge could be integrated into data collection to inform policy and strategic
measures for promoting Youth engagement in ensuring food security and nutrition.
If we are to have substantial shifts in food systems towards agroecology then the role of Youth is
essential. That’s why data related to agroecological practices and social technologies of production
are needed. We also need transdisciplinary  participatory research conducted through innovation
platforms that foster co-learning between practitioners and researchers, and horizontal
dissemination of experience among practitioners (e.g. farmer-to-farmer networks, communities of
practice and agroecological lighthouses) in order to reshuffle the imbalance between conventional
agriculture and agroecological research. In this sense agroecological research and mainstreaming
data about agroecological practices should be further legitimized and prioritized by adequate policy
process, including through the involvement of Youth in data collection. There should be a special
focus on the management of conflict of interest and power imbalance regarding knowledge within
agricultural and food value chain.
To support the needed transitions to sustainable and equitable food systems, significantly more
research is necessary on agroecological approaches to food security and nutrition. This was the
conclusion of the CFS HLPE Project Leader, Fergus Sinclair, at the 46th CFS Plenary. When thinking
about designing food systems for the future then, we need to think about agroecological approaches
in relation to youth. 

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the Human Right to Adequate Food: toward an inclusive framework. Routledge, Taylor and
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Cameron, J. & Wright, S., 2014, ‘Researching Diverse Food Initiatives: From Backyard and Community
Gardens to International Markets’, Editorial for Special Issue, Local Environment: The
International Journal of Justice and Sustainability, 19(1), 1-9.

Chipenda, C. (2018, March). After land reform in Zimbabwe: what about the youth?. In A paper
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Claeys, P., & Lambek, N. C. (2014). Introduction: In search of better options: Food sovereignty, the
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CSM Women Working group. 2019. Without Feminism there is no Agroecology - An input and vision
paper towards healthy, sustainable and just food systems of the Working Group of Women
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World Food Security. http://www.csm4cfs.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/CSM-

Agroecology-and-Feminism-September-2019_compressed.pdf 

CSM Food Systems and Nutrition Working group. 2019. CSM Vision Document on the CFS Guidelines
for Food Systems and Nutrition
http://www.csm4cfs.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/CSM-vision-document-FS-N_draft-
June-2019-final.pdf

Declaración del Foro Internacional sobre Agroecología Nyéléni. 2015. Mali

Documento de visión de mujeres del del Mecanismo de la Sociedad Civil en el marco del Comité de
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ETC Group. 2017. Who Will Feed Us? The Peasant Food Web vs The Industrial Food Chain, 3rd
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Emeana, E. M., Trenchard, L., Dehnen-Schmutz, K., & Shaikh, S. (2019). Evaluating the role of public
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Engaging Youth in Agriculture for increased food security and poverty reduction
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Gibson-Graham, J. K., Cameron, J., & Healy, S. (2013). Take back the economy: An ethical guide for
transforming our communities. U of Minnesota Press.

Girard, P. (2017). How can agriculture contribute to youth employment?. Geneve, CERAD.

Giuliani, A., Mengel, S., Paisley, C., Perkins, N., Flink, I., Oliveros, O., & Wongtschowski, M. (2017).
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McCune, N., Rosset, P. M., Cruz Salazar, T., Morales, H., & Saldívar Moreno, A. (2017). The long road:
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Case Studies

Australia
Farming Democracy
Case Studies of small-scale regenerative farmers in Australia, a number of them youth-led, and the
regulatory, policy, and practical obstacles they face in maintaining viable livelihoods without
government support.
See: https://afsa.org.au/afsa-merch/farming-democracy-2/

Argentina
MOCASE-LVC
Founded in 1990, MOCASE-LVC has become the reference for farmer struggles in Argentina. Engaged
in political and productive activities, the main strategy of this movement is grassroots training,
focused on young people, through learning-by-doing in different spaces – most significantly the
Agroecology School and UNICAM-SURI the Peasant’s Rural University Systems.
See: Juarez, P., Balázs, B., Trentini, F., Korzenszky, A. and Becerra, L. (2015) WP4 Case Study Report:
La Via Campesina. TRANSIT Deliverable 4. Grant agreement no: 613169.

Canada
National Farmers Union of Canada Youth Advisory Committee
The NFU Youth is a network of young Canadians who are concerned with the future of food and
agriculture in Canada and around the world.  NFU Youth members are young farmers and farmer
supporters committed to building Food Sovereignty: a food system that is economically viable,
ecologically sound, socially just and locally focused. 
See: 
https://www.nfu.ca/about/nfu-youth/
https://www.nfu.ca/about/nfu-youth/national-new-farmer-coalition/
https://youngagrarians.org/
 
TRACKS Youth Program
TRACKS, or Trent Aboriginal Cultural Knowledge and Science, is an educational program which
provides hands-on experiences for youth interested in the intersections of Indigenous and western
sciences.

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See: https://www.tracksprogram.ca/

Ecuador
Universidad Campesina Utopía Popular
The Unión de Organizaciones Campesinas de Esmeraldas (UOCE) created the educational project 
“Universidad Campesina Utopía Popular.” The project is for them an “act of rebellion”, as it offers
education and training to rural Youth who do not have access to higher education. In Utopía Popular,
Youth obtain, throughout four years, knowledge in critical politics, sciences, history and agroecology.
The project rests on the idea that knowledge is power, and that the unequal and unjust distribution
of access to education needs to be challenged, among others by creating spaces of education and
empowerment like these. The project also focuses particularly on the empowerment of women of
the region of Esmeraldas, which they describe as defined by a macho- and patriarchal culture.
See:
https://ojarasca.jornada.com.mx/2018/03/09/mujeres-y-jovenes-en-la-costa-de-ecuador-recrean-
comunidad-en-esmeraldas-2992.html;
https://ocaru.org.ec/index.php/comunicamos/noticias/item/9586-universidad-campesina-utopia-
popular 
 
Hawaii
the Wai’anae Community Re-Development Corporation (WCRC)
Established at the turn of the new millennium, a group of residents, traditional practitioners,
teachers, and business experts to together to create the Wai’anae Community Re-Development
Corporation (WCRC), a federally recognized 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization designed to had a
desire to address the challenges of our youth and community. Our impact strategy strives to meet
five critical areas of need: under privileged youth, sustainable economic development, organic
agriculture, health & well-being, and Hawaiian culture. Training youth to be culturally rooted and
communally relevant social entrepreneurs and leaders is our core objective.
See: https://www.maoorganicfarms.org/about_us

Hungary
Magosz (National Association of Hungarian Farmers’ Societies and Cooperatives)
a bottom-up organisation of farmer societies
See: Juarez, P., Balázs, B., Trentini, F., Korzenszky, A. and Becerra, L. (2015) WP4 Case Study Report:
La Via Campesina. TRANSIT Deliverable 4. Grant agreement no: 613169.

New Zealand
Cultivate Christchurch

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A social enterprise supporting youth education and vocational training in regenerative agriculture, on
earthquake-impacted land.
See:
Fiona Stewart & Bailey Peryman from Cultivate: Vodafone Foundation Recipients
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fje04fYzPpw
Crowdfunding campaign: invest in Cultivate’s Social Enterprise https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=nbl_q-qhTaw

United Kingdom
Social Farms & Gardens
A UK wide charity supporting communities to farm, garden and grow together. SF&G set up and co-
ordinates the School Farms Network as a mutual support and specialist network of practitioners and
those interested in starting a new school farm. There are now more than 120 School Farms across
the UK.
See: https://www.farmgarden.org.uk/school-farms-network

United States
Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance (NAFSA)
The Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance (NAFSA) is dedicated to restoring the Indigenous food
systems that support Indigenous self-determination, wellness, cultures, values, communities,
economies, languages, families, and rebuild relationships with the land, water, plants and animals
that sustain us. NAFSA brings people, communities (rural, remote and urban), organizations and
Tribal governments together to share, promote and support best practices and policies that enhance
dynamic Native food systems that promote holistic wellness, sustainable economic development,
education, reestablished trade routes, stewardship of land and water resources, peer-to-peer
mentoring, and multi-generational empowerment. NAFSA works to put the farmers, wildcrafters,
fishers, hunters, ranchers and eaters at the center of decision-making on policies, strategies and
natural resource management.
See: https://nativefoodalliance.org/about/

Student Farmworker Alliance

The Student Farmworker Alliance is a national network of students and young people organizing with
the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to uproot exploitation in the fields and build a food system
based on justice, respect and dignity for farmworkers.
See: https://www.sfalliance.org/who-we-are
 
Youth participation on Manhattan Community Boards
https://www.manhattanbp.nyc.gov/communityboards/

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International
https://communityeconomies.org/about/community-economies-research-and-practice

Philippines
https://www.wagggs.org/en/news/20200201-girl-scouts-lead-call-philippines-ban-unhealthy-food-
and-beverages-schools/

Madagascar
https://www.wagggs.org/en/blog/one-superpower-id-want-ability-ensure-girls-right-adequate-
nutrition-especially-developing-countries/

93. Dyana Sari, University of Tribhuwana Tunggadewi, Indonesia

Dear Team of Promoting Youth Engagement and Employment in Agriculture and Food Systems ;
I'd like to give ideas as follows :
The government must take the initiative to play a role in attracting young people to engage in
agriculture and the food system, through:
1. Give awards accompanied by money for young people who are doing business in agriculture
and the food system.  The selected persons should have particular habit, for example: those who
choose to live in rural areas and do their land to plant.
2. Give special allowances for those (young people) who are growing food crops periodically,
for example every month or two months, or 3 months.  This is intended to encourage them to
continue to try farming as a daily business and they believe that their business is supported by
the Government.
3. Providing facilities to do promotions when they are harvesting, for example: making bazaars,
making shocked - markets, season - cheap markets, supported by the local government, and the
central government supporting promotion through advertisements on television or social media.
4. Promoting young people who succeed in agriculture to be shown on television and / or social
media as exemplary public figures
5. Support young people who are successful in agriculture by participating in monitoring their
success and providing facilities to obtain bank loans and their need of agricultural mechanization
tools.
6. Creating a successful group of young people in the agricultural sector to continue to be given
attention and invited to public forums, for example: inviting in a meeting of the ministry of
agriculture, an invitation to the ceremony for independence day, a meeting of members of the
parliament, commemorating an important day in government, and etc.
7. Young people who succeed in agriculture have a duty to spread the importance of food
diversification so that it does not depend on just one food item (for example rice). They must be

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able to provoke people to consume other foodstuffs such as sweet potatoes, and the like: taro,
mbote, gembili, other tubers.
8. Young people who have succeeded in agriculture have begun to cultivate food that was often
consumed by previous communities, such as cassava, maize, taro, mbote, gembili, etc. so that
dependence on only one food product will lead to the tendency of food imports (for example
imports of rice ). But if there are other products besides rice, the availability of more diverse
foods can reduce dependency on just one food item and reduce rice imports. Because excessive
imports will trigger food prices to rise (because supply decreases and demand increases).
9. Local foodstuffs are being pushed back for consumption by highlighting their nutritional
value that is not inferior to the main foodstuffs and young people who succeed in agriculture
have become public figures to disseminate this information.
10. The government does a lot of advertising about the greatness of young people who succeed
in agriculture so that it will encourage the desire of other young people to do business in
agriculture and living in the villages (in order for not being migrants in the cities). 
11. Processed products from diversified foodstuffs can be more modified and introduced more
intensely to the community, by highlighting their nutritional value that is not less inferior to the
main foodstuffs (rice for example).
Sincerely yours, 
Dyana Sari 

94. Mahesh Chander, ICAR Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India

Whatever farming activities women do, they are not considered farmer, thus, excluded from most of
the rural development schemes in many countries. This report should address this issue too. This
paper gives some idea, “Women’s agricultural work is part of the labour market but is not recognised
as they are not officially listed as farmers”. According to a 2011 report by the UN Food and
Agricultural Organization (FAO), if women had the same access to productive resources as men, they
could increase farm yields by 20–30 percent. This could raise total agricultural output in developing
countries by 2.5–4 percent.
https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/news/women-agriculture-invisible-they-remain-1859509
http://www.fao.org/3/a-i2050e.pdf

95. Lal Manavado, Norway

Range and Scope: Sustained Youth Engagement in Food Systems
The purpose of this comment is to identify the constraints on sustained youth involvement in
agricultural pursuits and to suggest some ways of resolving this problem. In order to successfully
achieve this goal, the discussion will be placed in its context in a holistic manner. This entails looking
at ensuring adequate and varied nutrition of the people as an integral part of general development
placing emphasis on the part youth will have to play in it.
The Contextual Framework:

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In a holistic comment on the current issue, it is essential to emphasise that agriculture in its broadest
sense is a logically inseparable part of every human food system. This is an epistemologically
justifiable fact, and as such, it is not open to any arbitrary separation of that sub-system from the rest
of a food system. That would be analogous to talking about the anatomy of man confining oneself
only to that of his torso. I assume what is intended here is the engagement of youth in their food
systems with greater emphasis on their participation in the food production/harvesting sub-systems.
By and large, the justification given for an intensive promotion of youth involvement in food systems
seems to be sound. However, one of those reasons clearly indicates a basic flaw in the current
approach, viz., it is reactive instead of being a holistic pro-active one required to resolve a grave
problem we already face. First, according to FAO ca. 2 billion people are ill nourished today while we
await 2 billion more mouths largely in the poorer social groups. It is here one need to speak out
forcefully; no species however technically ‘advanced’ can expect to survive and maintain an
acceptable quality of life unless its population is in equilibrium with those of other species and the
finite resources on this planet. Let us openly advocate birth control as a vital necessity for survival
and make it an integral part of any and every endeavour. Food production or any other meaningful
profession cannot accommodate unlimited current population growth.
Lest I were to be accused of diverting from the main issue, let me point out much theoretical and
some practical work is done to alleviate the adverse effects of soil pollution, erosion, and bio-
diversity, increasing the bio-diversity among food species, climate-friendly agriculture etc. All these
essential tasks are needed to enhance the availability of eco-system services, and equilibrium among
the living species is an essential component of this effort. Population balance among species is the
quantitative dimension of that equilibrium while bio-diversity is its qualitative element.
In passing, let me point out that the success of each and every ‘development endeavour totally
depends on the equilibrium mentioned above. It has two components; first the equilibrium between
the available mineral resources and the living. Natural physio-chemical phenomena, Death and
dissolution in several forms return those minerals back into the environment, while balanced
reproduction enables the process to continue. This state of equilibrium depends on the balance
among the living species, which has a qualitative and quantitative dimension. The former refers to
bio-diversity while the latter indicates the sustainable population of each species. Unless one
attributes human ontogeny to some action of a super-natural entity, there is no way to exempt man
from this iron rule. Please note one can always delude oneself with the fiction of science opening the
way to ‘unlimited’ energy, resources, etc. The current economy based notions of development are
simply based on some form of ad hoc social Darwinism, which no more sound than the variants of
Marxism; both represent humans as objects without any possibility of having a free will.
A last general point: Have we every paused to ask ourselves what specifically we mean by
‘development’? Very often, income is paraded as the indicator, and several cities in developing
countries are described as ‘economic miracles’. Has anyone ever taken a walk around the million-
dweller slums that surround those miracles? They constitute poor villagers that flooded those
miracle cities as unskilled labour whose employment is always temporary. ILO ought to see how little
was paid to those workers who built many such economic miracles.
Reverting to food systems, this question assumes an even greater cogency. Nobody will dispute that
what we want to achieve is the possibility of enabling the people to procure and consume a
wholesome, varied and a balanced diet. At this point, an often ignored fact comes into the fore, i.e.,
nearly all human cultures have developed their own culinary tradition over centuries if not millennia,
and even some animals seem to show food preferences. Such food cultures are considered to be

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social good or a valued cultural heritage. Possibility of the dietary pleasure and appreciation this food
culture enables the people to enjoy has always been a significant contributor to man’s quality of life.
Therefore, when we suggest what kind of food the youth should be instrumental in producing
through agricultural pursuits or making available to people by joining other sub-systems of a food
system, it is imperative that their work does not diminish the dietary enjoyment of the society
involved. We have absolutely no right to deprive the present and coming generations of the culinary
pleasures their predecessors could have experienced by offering them some insipid, high-yield ersatz
products based on algae or some fungus. This is not to suggest we all should be able to dine like Louis
XIV while getting full of years and gout, nor yet like some less equal comrade waiting in a long queue
to buy a loaf of black bread rich in wood fibre.
It would be clear by now that this preamble provides us a general context applicable to every type of
development work and some specific to agricultural pursuits.
Criteria of Success:
 Birth control is essential for the success and sustainability of every development endeavour.
 Every effort should be undertaken to enhance the eco-systems services and strictly control
the exploitation of minerals. The former requires active steps to increase world-wide bio-diversity
and the appropriate increases in species population except that of the humans while the second
calls for accelerated re-cycling of a large number of items.
 Actions to minimise the ill-effects of climate change including various ‘green’ projects and
limiting Carbon dioxide emission, etc., are sub-categories of the two contextual elements given
above.
 Action to prevent and remedy soil pollution, erosion, the depletion of its flora and fauna and
rehabilitation of the pollinator population, etc., constitute an element in enhancing our eco-
systems services. 
 It is important to emphasise the contribution dietary enjoyment makes to one’s quality of
life. We are not yet machines to be fuelled by ‘balanced diets’ synthesised in a laboratory. Food
culture of a society enables it to experience this pleasure; moreover, it also points to animals and
plants best suited for the purpose within a given area. This knowledge derives from centuries of
trial and error, and should not be ignored as shown by the Aral Sea disaster.
 It is true that the coming generations could be conditioned to consume ersatz novel food by
inducing their guardians to feed them that from their infancy. Guardians can be induced to do so
by conditioning their minds to believe in the ‘infallibility’ and the ‘quality’ of science. Compare this
with the propaganda of the soviet and Nazi regimes. While they were harsh and brutal, the
modern ‘science news’ and advertisements achieve the same result through more subtle
techniques. Let us look at the forest rather than be infatuated by a bush or a tree in it.
 People’s ability to procure a wholesome, varied and a balanced diet depends on its sustained
availability and affordability. Even among the farmers and fishermen these two requirements are
only partially met. While affordability is critical, ‘accessibility’ is mere rhetoric, a sad attempt to
please some vested interest at the expense of the hungry.
 We will not recap the relevance of the aging workers engaged in agricultural pursuits,
depopulation of farms throughout the globe, migration of youth into city slums and their
undesirable consequences.

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 Therefore, it is justifiable to propose that our current endeavour should be directed at the
following set of logically inseparable ends:
The Goals:
1. A significant increase in the number of youth entering into appropriate sub-system of their
own food system with the emphasis on food producing/harvesting sub-system.
2. Their pursuits should enable them to earn a sustained decent living in order to adequately
meet some of their food and other justifiable needs.
3. Their activities should make a significant contribution to the sustained availability and
affordability of varied and wholesome food to a reasonable number of people in a community.
Note that we are also supposed to alleviate hunger and the notion of entrepreneurship is not
exactly congruent with it. Meanwhile, co-operative action in and among communities does so
eminently well.
4. Engagement of youth in food systems should not result in soil erosion and pollution, loss of
soil, agricultural and general bio-diversity, while striving to remedy those ills.
5. It would be most desirable to adhere closely to the local food culture in order to avoid the ills
mentioned in 4 above.
6. Eco-systems service supplementation i.e., the use of biocides and artificial fertilisers, growth
hormones, etc., should be used as sparingly as possible. Their adverse human and environmental
side-effects have been well established. Moreover, residues of some such compounds act as
endocrine disrupters among humans and animals.
7. Use of genetically modified crops and animals is to be deprecated at least until their long-
term effects on man and animals can be impartially established. Since 1990’ties it has been
known that the pollen from genetically modified maize is toxic to many pollinators and has
contributed to their depletion in the US.
8. It must be emphasised that the youth should be active in every sub-system of a food system
to agriculture and fishing to the food sales to the end-users. The last stage may involve co-
operative food shops owned and run by them or small family-run restaurants serving a
community not far from the source of production. Formation of ever-growing chains should be
scrupulously avoided, for the competition it entails could only chain producers outside of them
back onto poverty just as it has done both in the ‘developed’ and developing’ countries.
The Major Constraints:
I have tried to clear the grounds and set down our objectives. However, in this hasty attempt, I may
not have rid myself of all the weeds, so it is not exhaustive, but the goals are set in stone.
 It is axiomatic that unless one is forced to undertake an action, no sane person would do
things at random. A young or an older person would do something because that individual believes
that it would lead to some desirable result. Youth avoid involvement in food systems because they
believe it to be undesirable. Is this not obvious? Yes and no.
 This ‘no’ is crucial; it is one thing to desire something, but its achievability is never a given.
Just consider millions of youth who flood into cities subsisting miserably, thousands of young
people whose broken lives that litter the film production centres and training camps designed to
produce highly paid players of foot ball, tennis, etc., would they have chosen such a fate had their
expectations been more realistic? What makes youth indulge in such futile dreams and ruin their
lives?

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 The answer is simple. It is the mind numbing image of city life, cinema, TV, professional
games, etc., as depicted by what humorously called ‘’media’ and ‘entertainment’ ably supported
by advertising industry. It is ubiquitous, and even more deadly than their Nazi and soviet
counterparts, for they manage young minds ‘softly’. The point is their insidious effect is ignored by
all the current efforts to promote food production. It is essential to correct the current ‘image’ of
food producers; after air and water, food is the most important thing needed to sustain life. Thus,
its value derives from its importance to our lives and not from any preposterous ‘value chain’. This
‘not’ is logical; hence, it is not open to pointless debate.
 After the point above, we are ready to look at the other constraints. Youth everywhere live in
more or less well-governed national states. Most in our target group have limited know-how and
financial resources. Moreover, the components of every food system are directly or indirectly
influenced by the government.
 Therefore, our present problem can be directly attributed either to the lack of appropriate
policies relevant to food systems and other areas that have a bearing upon them, or if present, to
flaws their in.
 So far as I know, no thorough analytic and synthetic approach seem to have been undertaken
to diagnose and remedy this overarching constraint to development in general and youth
engagement in food systems in particular.
 Even when the policies may seem to serve their purpose, they will fail to succeed unless they
embody inter- and intra-policy harmony en masse. This harmony has to be determined with strict
reference to their appropriateness. Please note that policy congruence does not involve
appropriateness, thus it is reactive, hence unsuitable. Its use will always constitute an
insurmountable constraint to success owing to its uncritical acceptance.
 Appropriateness is an attribute that runs through clearly and consistently from a policy,
branching out into each and every strategic and tactical line of its implementation. When it obtains
throughout, the policy embodies intra-policy harmony. When those strategic and tactical lines of
implementation among the policies in the total policy set of a country, they embody intra-policy
harmony.
 Appropriateness is established with scrupulous reference to the following criteria if the
chosen strategy and tactic is suitable purely in its technical sense. A tactical approach on its final
deployment represents what is actually done in the field like a farm, food storage facility, family-
run food shop or a restaurant.
1. It shall not only degrade the environment in the ways described earlier, but will promote
environmental regeneration and enhance the total bio-diversity of the area involved.
2. It will strive to gainfully employ as many young people as possible rather than resorting to
labour-saving advanced technology that has the opposite effect.
3. It will contribute significantly to sustained local availability and affordability of food rather
than only personal monetary gain. This excludes efforts to replace food crops with cash-crops
and/or diverting turning local food crops into cash-crops as it happened in West Africa after the
pea-nut export scandal following the advice given by the World Bank, which led to protein
malnutrition among the local children.
4. It will promote co-operative effort in and among the local communities while depreciating
internecine competition.
5. It will promote and take pride in the local food culture.

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6. Its priority will be the local food needs, and its surplus can then be appropriately exchanged
with other locales and regions. At this juncture, it is in appropriate to talk about anything global.
7. It will emphasise the importance of keeping as many sub-systems of the food system local.
When appropriate, a one or more of its sub-systems may be operated by several neighbouring
communities, a region or even nation-wide as in the use of railways as an element of its transport
sub-system. Road transport is least effective and most expensive in terms of fuel efficiency and
environmental damage.
8. It should allow its quickest sustainable implementation. This entails that it calls for readily
available equipment, seed and livestock that are within the financial resources one may
reasonably expect to have at one’s disposal, and can be put to more or less immediate use by the
local youth after a short field training. The support this involves should be sustained and
gradually reduced as the project takes root. The physical items mentioned here should be
suitable for the local climate and the equipment should be easy to repair and maintain locally.
For the sake of brevity, I have not elaborated on the 8 criteria of appropriateness described above.
But I think it is easy to expand on them provided that one observes a strict logical consistency
throughout. I suggest that the other constraints arise directly either from lack of appropriate policies,
lack of the types of harmony described here, and when they meet those requirements, wide-spread
incompetence, corruption, and in some instances, natural disasters or armed conflict with or without
general lawlessness.
However, it is difficult to root out incompetence until and unless one can be rid of the corruption that
exists everywhere. It may be blatant or well hidden as it is in ‘mature democracies’. As long as
hypocrisy remains something publicly criticised while quietly remaining a solid pillar of many a
foreign policy, it is difficult to envisage how to achieve a lasting, just peace. So, instead of trying to
empty the ocean with a tea spoon, let us look at the constraints arising from policy deficiencies.
I think the negative public perception of nearly all means of food production throughout the world is
the greatest hindrance to youth from engaging in it. Of course, a set of other factors exacerbate the
problem. However, it is imperative to design a universal public education strategy intended to bring
about a radical change in public opinion as to the cardinal importance of food production and
portraying the youth engaging in it as the most vital members of the society. This ought to be carried
out at the global, regional and national levels using clear, logically cohesive simple language free of
hyperbole.
We ought to transform the current education policies throughout the world, and what is needed is a
rapid evolutionary change in it embodying the following elements:
1. Purpose of education shall not simply cater to the needs of tradesmen, but aim at enabling
everybody to develop one’s own abilities in a way that will benefit oneself and one’s social group.
It will underline the necessity to cooperate with other people and will deprecate schemes that
promote competition. The latter will be replaced by aiming for the greatest excellence one may
be able to achieve.
2. It shall inculcate into adults and children our well-being is inseparable from that of our
environment as discussed earlier, and the current consumerist exploitation of common finite
resources is unjustifiable, hence unacceptable.
3. Sequestration of huge monetary resources by the few is one of the greatest threats to
human civilisation as we know it. It is time that we clearly understood such personal wealth is a
cause for shame rather than pride.

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4. Education should stress the fact that money is merely a tool usable to gain something else.
Hence making its unlimited acquisition a most desirable goal is unreasonable.
5. It shall emphasise that food is the third vital necessity for life, and as we value our lives, food
production ought to be considered an esteemed profession. Likewise, it shall teach people to
value what is really worthy, while rejecting tinsel and trivia often portrayed as ‘cool’ or
‘glamorous’.
As for agriculture education, there seems to be a significant variation among the institutions
responsible for it. Be that as it may the following is a non-exhaustive list of steps that may allow one
to overcome the hurdle of inappropriateness in it.
1. Active cooperation with the relevant institutions needed to make use of the following
training strategies in real time and place.
2. Priority should be given to quickest possible training of youth in and around agricultural
areas. This training should be on-the-job type and should only utilise appropriate tools and other
materials.
3. It should also provide similar training in food transport, storage, simple preservation and
disposal either as raw or cooked food. Such outlets should be located in such a way so that the
local communities will derive maximum nutritional benefit. As mentioned earlier, the sub-
systems of a local food system should be appropriate both qualitatively and quantitatively. For
example, no prestige project could meet this criterion.
4. It would be very unwise and dangerous to train anyone in what might be called ‘getting rich
quick’ kind of agriculture. Recall that we want a decent life for youth as well as enable the hungry
in rural areas end-users wholesome affordable food. Young food ‘entrepreneurs’ aiming to get
rich cannot address the second part of our objective, and they will be left behind.
One of the most serious hindrances we face is the inappropriateness of finance policies in many
countries. Defence allocation often exceeds education, agriculture and health budgets. How this
hardly justifiable situation might be changed remains an intractable problem. Perhaps, a global effort
at arms reduction to more reasonable levels might enable at least some of the worst affected
countries to revise their defence allocations in favour of channelling more resources to those three
fields.
Another aspect of this difficulty is how even ear-marked development aid is to be spent. For instance,
surprisingly large number of industrialised donors requires that the receiver country should hire
‘experts’ from the former as well as buy equipment etc. All too often, such experts are incompetent
with respect to the cultivars and livestock of the receiver country, and their equipment unsuitable for
the climate, difficult for the local expertise to maintain, and spare parts are too expensive. Whether it
is hidden or blatant, the incidence of corruption is always a question of degree. Bipartisan budget
control might go some way to alleviate this difficulty.
The influence of law on our problem is twofold. First, success of rule of law does not depend on
having excellent laws codified and ratified, but rather it depends on how effectively and rigorously
the relevant laws are enforced. It is this last proviso that often confines the rule of law to print, but
hardly on the ground. It is hard to envisage how to overcome this obstacle in order to ensure for the
youth secure land tenure, security of their property, etc.
En passant, some well-meant international laws on children’s rights represent an insurmountable
obstacle to task. In several parts of Africa and Eastern Europe, armed conflict has deprived many
children of an adequate education. Now over 15 years of age, they may be given an opportunity to

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earn a decent income through agriculture, but this is forbidden by that international law until they
are 18. Their disrupted lives make it impossible to procure a formal education and they remain an
easy prey to wide variety of criminals. It is hope this self-defeating law will be soon pragmatically
revised permitting those who are doing their best to help those young people without breaking the
law.
Inept industry policies result in varying degrees of environmental degradation, air, sea and land
pollution as well as soil erosion, which reduce eco-systems services including soil fertility and climate
change. These have serious consequences for food production. Unless this is remedies, it would be
difficult for youth to enter into a food system that would enable them to earn a decent living. All too
often, unduly large allocations are made to inappropriate industries such as manufactories for which
a country cannot provide enough raw materials. Enormous textile factories, sugar refineries, etc., are
among some well-known examples. If such undertakings are rationally scaled down, considerable
sums may be diverted to food production that would address chronic food shortage and
unemployment.
Regardless of the gospel of free trade, it is obvious that unsuitable trade policies have adverse effects
on local food production. Allowing the foreign concerns to set up factories using cheap local labour
to make and sell industrial food in a country has the worst effect on achieving our goal.
1. It depends on a few crops or household animals usually a foreign high-yield varieties coming
from industrial/factory farms. Their total dependence on artificial fertilisers and biocides
degrades the soil and environment.
2. It eradicates local food culture by encouraging the local youth to consume items through
advertisements designed to manage young minds. This consumption is often depicted as a la
mode among the successful in some affluent country. Adverse health consequences of feeding on
them are all around us while the authorities and experts are busy arguing about evidence of such
results.
3. The same injurious results obtain from the import of such items. If we really wish to be
successful in the present endeavour, 1 and 2 above should be highly restricted.
4. No progress will be made until and unless the countries that experience frequent food
shortages are able and willing to free the national food production from every foreign control
whatsoever. As it is the third vital necessity for life after air and water, people of a country should
fully control its production and sales. Otherwise, democracy seems to be an even more nebulous
notion when it does not allow people to control something necessary to sustain their lives.
5. Trade taxes on local food stuffs should be greatly reduced while the opposite applies to the
items outside the local food culture. Such tax benefits should also accrue to appropriate
agricultural equipment and a set of carefully chosen items essential to food production.
6. Grants and/or low interest loan facilities should be established to encourage the
establishment of farm and food outlets run on a co-operative basis. This will enable sharing the
farm machinery for their optimal use at a lower cost. This is also applicable to any other
appropriate sub-system of the local food system.
It is often over looked that the physical fitness and health of the majority of youth in less affluent
countries who migrate into cities are considerably below that of countries average. Apart from
malnutrition, lack of adequate primary health care is a relevant factor here. I think national health
policy should fully concentrate on rural health care, not on paper, but by undertaking concrete

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action. We already know what is needed; the difficulty lies in motivating those who have the
authority and means to act.
In this hasty note, I have concentrated on policy for the following reasons:
   • Many local projects may show excellent results on the short run, but they often suffer from any
one or more shortcomings given below:
1. It may lack wide-spread applicability even within a country unless it cooperates with
programmes that produce different food items for home consumption.
2. Inappropriate of its methods and/output will make it would make it impossible to sustain.
3. It may lack follow-up that includes financial and technical backing for a sufficiently long
period.
4. It may involve unrealistic expectations among participants by laying emphasis on profit and
competition.
Owing to those reasons and more, one ought to be most circumspect with what one may choose as
‘good practices’. It should not escape our minds that engagement of youth in food systems is only
one side of a coin. The food output from such a system has to be purchased and consumed by the
end-users. End-users are the last element in any food system, and unless the exchange of values
between that element and the rest of the system i.e., money for food is not a fair one, it is hard to
see how hunger and malnutrition can be avoided. Hence, co-operative fair trade ought to be
emphasised rather than one’s profit.
As I have said before, the present problem is so acute and wide-spread; its resolution requires well
coordinate national efforts to ameliorate it. The sole governance option open to us here are sound
policies and their appropriate implementation. International and regional organisations can play an
important facilitating role here.
Best wishes!
Lal Manavado.

96. KBN Rayana, Jaipur National University, India

Promoting youth engagement and employment in agriculture 
By prof. Dr. KBN Rayana, professor @ school of Ag.sc., Jaipur national University  & chair
-IAMMA(institute of Agricultural marketing,Management and Administration.)
Scope: In developed countries it is less than 15% public engaged in Agriculture, where in developing
countries it is 50-70% engaged as agriculture as lively hood and own business cum profession.
Now current position shows decreasing trend in Agricultural profession due main reason is low
income in developing countries, and low wages and long time soiled hands ,hardship.
One another looking to rural areas grown in white hair is increasing and harness of youth is
decreasing due low wages and returns. Secondly due to low turnout of agriculture labour which Is in
both developing and developed countries. The problem in developed countries to import illegal
labour in Agriculture, and developing countries switching other professions in Industry like
manufacture, construction or mining etc.
Now greying hair leads and unables attract of youngers. How to promote it.

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1. Putting education of Agriculture right from the 5th class in all countries
2. Make a diplamo at higher secondry level declare for job by and below 17 yrs after obtaining
some internship
3. Encourage more scholarship or incentive to train youngers in rural areas. In India KVK – a
small research station to train the youths and farmers an example. But results to achieve ar
behind.
4. Encourages youth as selection of Agriculture to make profession by providing scholarship
including fee waiver, and preference to the farmers family including heritage farmer mentor ships
etc.
5. Call to be given in developing countries to educate high tech agriculture along with other
incentives 
6. Those in other trained subjects interested to join farming to be given special training ---
7. Up to below 30 yrs old to be trained including degree holders in Agric(BS-Ag) etc…with
Agri.clinic – which is running now in India. (this my innovation project copied by NABARD while in
process with DST, and handover to MANAGE run by Ministry who is conducting training on it in
India.
8. Subsidized in various products used on farm sector to enable to reap the good production
9. Establish good market chain to reap good prices through various systems of farming
10. And encouraging them with life secure with insurance and social secure in farm sector.
More details can be obtained and available to present personally and also as a project.
BY prof. Dr KBN Rayana. 

97. Astrid Jakobs de Padua, World Bank Group, United States of America

Dear FSN-Moderator,

The WBG fully supports the need to promote youth engagement and employment in agriculture and
food systems as agriculture accounts for 32% of total employment globally. Food systems extend
beyond agricultural production and includes food storage, processing, distribution, retailing,
restaurants, and many services. Food systems are one of the large employers globally. In developing
countries, the food system employs the majority of people in self and wage employment both on and
off the farm. Globally, 65% of poor working adults rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. Farming
generates about 68 percent of rural income in Africa and about half of the rural income in South Asia.

The aspect of youth engagement and employment is highlighted in the WBG report Future of
Food: Shaping the Food System to Deliver Jobs and a paper on “Rural Youth Employment” prepared
with IFAD for the German G20 Presidency in 2017.

We would also like to draw your attention to the following jobs diagnostics and analytical work which
are not exclusively authored by the WBG:

World Development Report 2019-The Changing Nature Of Work: The World Development Report
(WDR) 2019: The Changing Nature of Work studies how the nature of work is changing as a result of

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advances in technology today. Fears that robots will take away jobs from people have dominated the
discussion over the future of work, but the World Development Report 2019 finds that on balance
this appears to be unfounded. Work is constantly reshaped by technological progress. Firms adopt
new ways of production, markets expand, and societies evolve. Overall, technology brings
opportunity, paving the way to create new jobs, increase productivity, and deliver effective public
services. Read more

Creating opportunities for rural youth (IFAD Rural Development Report 2019): This report is based
on substantive evidence and attempts to provide the kind of analysis that can inform policies,
programs, and investments to promote a rural transformation that is inclusive of youth. It examines
who rural youth are, where they live, and the multiple constraints they face in their journey from
dependence to independence. A distinguishing feature of this report is that it examines rural
development in the context of the transformation of rural areas and the wider economy.
Opportunities for young women and men begin with a transformation towards a dynamic rural
economy. These opportunities depend on the national, rural, and household settings in which young
people reside. Only by understanding these multiple layers can governments and decision makers
design effective policies and investments to enable young rural women and men to become
productive and connected individuals who are in charge of their future. Read more

Pathways to Better Jobs in IDA Countries - Findings from Jobs Diagnostics: This report documents
cross-country findings from an analysis conducted by World Bank staff working on Jobs Diagnostics. It
identifies some key insights for policymakers to take into account when designing policies and
programs for inclusive growth. The findings are drawn from three different sources. The
macroeconomic section analyzes data for over 16,000 overlapping episodes of economic growth in
125 countries. The labor supply section analyzes labor data from the latest household surveys in 150
countries around the world. The firm-level analysis draws on business data from countries for which
—at the time of writing—the World Bank had conducted a Jobs Diagnostic. Read more

Promoting a New Economy for the Middle East and North Africa: Countries in the Middle East and
North Africa (MENA) possess all the ingredients they need to leapfrog into the digital future. They
have large, well-educated youth populations that have already adopted new digital and mobile
technologies on a wide scale. They have a highly educated female population. That combination has
immense potential to drive future growth and job creation. The question is whether the region can
adapt to a new economic reality. Read more

Labor and Welfare Impacts of a Large-Scale Livelihoods Program : Quasi-Experimental Evidence

from India: Improving the livelihoods of poor households and transitioning more women back to the
labor force is a major challenge in South Asia. Self-employment promoted through women's groups
has often been cited as a promising intervention towards this end. However, the evidence on the
impact of such programs on household income and labor outcomes is limited, especially for
government programs like the National Rural Livelihoods Mission in India. This study aims to provide
empirical evidence on the welfare impacts of an "intensive approach" adopted under this
program. Read more

Myanmar's Future Jobs- Embracing Modernity: There are more than 24 million jobs in Myanmar,
consisting of both income and in-kind earning activities. These jobs are behind Myanmar’s enviable
recent economic growth rates and are the main source of income for households, particularly poor
households, and they can strengthen social cohesion, a particularly valuable outcome in an ethnically

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diverse and conflict-affected country. Building on the Myanmar government’s Myanmar Sustainable
Development Program (MSDP), which provides a framework for jobs policy reform. Read more

Communities Livelihoods Fisheries- Governance, Growth, and the Blue Economy in

Mozambique: To support Mozambique’s blue economy and promote sustainable rural development,
the World Bank is working to make the fishing sector more sustainable and profitable by aligning
economic development with the sustainable management of marine resources. Capturing blue
economy opportunities requires an integrated, cross-sectoral approach. Read more

Timor-Leste Poverty - Making Agriculture Work for the Poor: About 80 percent of the poor
households in Timor-Leste live in rural areas and are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. It
is therefore widely acknowledged that growth in the agriculture sector is an important channel
through which poverty can be reduced in the country. Read more

Mozambique – Jobs Diagnostic: The report focuses on the challenge of Mozambique's jobs

transition: how to accelerate the shift into higher value-added activities and better livelihoods. Read
more

Diagnostic study of barriers for strengthening livelihoods of low-income rural women in

Uzbekistan: Due to the strong economic growth maintained in the last 15 years, Uzbekistan made
progress in reducing gender inequality. At the same time, several demographic and structural
challenges remain; and effectively engaging women in the economy is one of them. While
modernizing various sectors of the economy will foster progress and development, it may also result
in setbacks for women, as they lack the skills and education needed to successfully adjust to a
changing reality. While women constitute around 50 percent of the national population, their
participation in the formal labor market is limited. Active women’s participation offers a reserved
potential for further national economic growth and improved livelihoods for women in
Uzbekistan. Read more

Jobs Diagnostic Côte d'Ivoire: Employment, Productivity, and Inclusion for Poverty Reduction: The
Côte d’Ivoire jobs diagnostic provides a comprehensive empirical analysis and solid evidence-base of
employment challenges and opportunities in Côte d’Ivoire to inform strategies and policy
actions. Read more

Jobs Diagnostic Tajikistan: The objectives of this report are twofold. First, it analyzes the main
challenges facing the country in terms of jobs at the macro, firm, and household levels. Second, it
outlines a set of policies and programs that can facilitate structural transformation to achieve the
country’s development objectives through i) a higher rate of job creation in the formal sector; ii)
improvements in the quality of jobs, particularly those in the informal sector; and iii) better access to
jobs among vulnerable population groups. Read more

Monitoring and evaluation of jobs operations: The Jobs M&E Toolkit provides a package of
resources for project teams and clients to support mainstreaming the Jobs Agenda in World Bank
Group (WBG) lending operations. The aim is to help teams working with government counterparts
with simple tools for the data collection on jobs, without the burden of resource-intensive survey
efforts. The toolkit contains a set of guidance on indicators for key results on jobs, data collection
forms, and manuals, which are tailored by beneficiary type: individuals and firms. Read more

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There are also a number of relevant blogs to be mentioned:

Five new insights on how agriculture can help reduce poverty: The view that productive agriculture
is critical for employment creation and poverty reduction is now widely shared within the
development community. Read more

Five facts about jobs and economic transformation in IDA countries: What are the pathways people
follow to better jobs? Economies grow when more people find work, when they get better at what
they do, and when they move from low-productivity work to better, higher-productivity jobs. Read
more

Budding entrepreneurs in rural Bihar: The Agri-Entrepreneurship (AE) model follows a decentralized

approach to empowering local youth as “Agri-entrepreneurs” (AE) who champion agriculture
development in neighboring villages. Besides local self-employment, the model facilitates the
delivery of services such as access to high-quality inputs, crop advisory, doorstep financial
transactions, and aggregation of surplus produce for distant markets. Read more

Growth in Central Asia hinges on creating more jobs with higher wages: Jobs and wage growth have
been the most important driver of poverty reduction globally, and Central Asia. In Tajikistan, for
example, it has cut poverty by about two-thirds since 2003. In Kazakhstan, it accounted for more
than three-quarters of income growth over the past decade — even among the poorest 20
percent. Read more

Rising with rice in Côte d’Ivoire - More and better jobs by connecting farmers to markets: The
challenges faced by the different actors within the rice value chain in Côte d’Ivoire while distinct, are
also interconnected. How could we address these constraints so that the chain can reach its full
potential and contribute to poverty reduction through more and better jobs? Read more

In Africa, more, not fewer people will work in agriculture: Many people in Sub-Saharan Africa still
work in agriculture; on average, over half of the labor force, and even more in poorer countries and
localities. The share of the labor force in agriculture is declining (as is normal in development),
leading African leaders and economists to focus on job creation outside agriculture. Read more

Debunking three myths about Informality: Since the concept of the “informal sector” was coined
half a century ago, countries all over the world have promoted the formalization of small- and
medium-sized enterprises. The perceived benefits of formalization include better access to credit,
justice, large formal clients, and, for the government, higher tax revenues. But according to recent
literature, most formalization efforts resulted in modest and short term increases informality
rates. Read more

How can we unlock the potential of household enterprises in Tanzania? Non-farm household

enterprises provide an important opportunity for employment in Tanzania. Agriculture is still the
primary economic activity of the country, but the economy is shifting away from it, and the number
of people employed in this sector has been declining since 2006. Read more

Agriculture is the ‘green gold’ that could transform the economy and the lives of Ugandan
farmers. Agriculture is Uganda’s ‘green gold’ that can transform the economy and the lives of
farmers. Why it is then that Uganda’s well documented agricultural potential is not realized? What

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specific public-sector policies and actions are required to unleash the entrepreneurial energy of
Uganda’s largest private sector actors—its farmers? Read more

In South Asia, poor rural women have begun to set up lucrative new businesses:  Across South Asia,
our agriculture and rural development projects are helping transform the lives of poor rural women.
From daily wage laborers, they are now becoming entrepreneurs who generate jobs for others. Over
the last decade, these projects have supported an estimated 5 million micro and small
entrepreneurs, most of whom are women. Read more

Horticulture offers hope for growth and jobs in rural Afghanistan: Investments in agriculture,
particularly horticulture, have produced tangible returns as unique weather conditions are favorable
to growing produce that is in-demand in local and regional markets. Read more

Can agriculture create job opportunities for youth? Technology and the internet are also opening up
opportunities for agriculture, and urbanization and changing diets are calling for new ways to
process, market, and consume our foods. So, can agriculture provide job opportunities for
youth? Read more

Measuring youth employment projects: What can we learn from each other? Youth employment
projects face varying contextual realities and constraints that often result in generating innovations
when adapting and customizing their monitoring and evaluation system. There is a lag in the spread
of innovations due to the various contexts, funders, and organizations often operating
independently. Read more

Accelerating and learning from innovations in youth employment projects: Innovations in youth

employment programs are critical to addressing this enormous development challenge effectively.
Rapid progress in digital technology, behavioral economics, evaluation methods, and the connectivity
of youth in the developing world generates a stream of real-time insights and opportunities in
project design and implementation. Read more

How can Zambia create 1 million jobs? Job creation has become a mantra in the country since the
government has set the goal to create a million jobs in key sectors over the next five years under the
Seventh National Development Plan. Read more

Very useful knowledge products are:

Feed the Future Project Design Guide for Youth-Inclusive Agriculture and Food Systems: Research
paints a dynamic picture of youth in agri-food systems. Overall, rural youth earn “mixed livelihoods”
from a diverse stream of sources—on-farm, off-farm, and non-farm—with self-employment playing a
particularly important role. Read more

Creating jobs for rural youth- in agricultural value chains: The brief argues that youth-inclusive
investments to modernize the agricultural sector will unleash its huge potential, offer attractive
employment opportunities and create a level playing field for rural youth. Read more

Challenges and opportunities in agriculture for African youth: The brief explores the challenges and
opportunities facing young people trying to enter the agricultural and agribusiness sector. Read more

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What Works in Soft Skills Development for Youth Employment? This report summarizes areas of
consensus regarding soft skills from the perspective of the Youth Employment Funders Group (YEFG),
a network of donors working together to generate and share more and better evidence-based
knowledge on what works in the field of youth employment. Read more

Critical Capital for African Agri-Food SMEs: Rabobank Foundation, AgriProFocus, and ICCO
Cooperation offer support to agri-food SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa in overcoming some of the most
important hurdles to growth and development. Read more

Empowering Youth to Engage in Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems: This

report aims to enhance understanding on the main challenges and opportunities to empower youth
to carry out and benefit from responsible agricultural investment by giving voice to those most
concerned – young farmers, agri-entrepreneurs and workers, and those who support them. It
summarizes the main findings from a series of multi-stakeholder capacity assessment workshops
with participants from six countries – Côte d’Ivoire, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and
Uganda. Read more

The Future of Rural Youth in Developing Countries: Rural youth constitute over half of the youth
population in developing countries and will continue to increase in the next 35 years. This study looks
at local actions and national policies that can promote agro-food value chains and other rural non-
farm activities using a youth employment lens. Read more

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Attract Youth into Profitable Agriculture in
Kenya: Youth cherishes technology, efficiency, and innovations and accommodate entrepreneurial
risks. The objectives of this study were to show the beneficial use of Information and Communication
Technologies (ICTs) in agriculture among the youth in Kenya, assessed ICT application and commonly
used tools, experienced challenges, impacts and suggested future ICT use. Using radio, short message
services (SMS) and social media, they discussed agricultural topics and shared successes. Read more

Informal is the new normal improving the lives of workers at risk of being left behind: In 2009, the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) publication of is informal
normal? Marked the acceptance of a new understanding of informality in mainstream thinking. The
book argued that, rather than being a stage of development to be reduced and eventually – as far as
possible – eradicated as the entire labor force graduated to higher quality and more formal
employment, the informal sector was likely to grow. Read more

Agriculture, Technology, Livelihoods, and Employment: Debates, Issues, and Concerns: The lack of
technological transformation in agriculture has drastically reduced income earning opportunities. The
sector is still plagued by several challenges related to widespread rural poverty, natural resource
degradation, and attaining competitiveness in the increasingly globalized economy. Read more

Food Processing in Sub-Saharan Africa: Solutions for African Food Enterprises: Food processing is a
significant driver of local economies, creating supplier linkages for millions of small-scale farmers and
helping elevate rural incomes across East and Southern Africa. Read more

The Emerging ‘Quiet Revolution’ in African Agrifood Systems: This brief focuses on the new
opportunity of farmers, via rural-urban food supply chains, to link to the massive and growing and
diversifying urban food market in Africa. Read more

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Agriculture, Food and Jobs in West Africa: The share of agriculture in food economy employment
varies significantly across countries – in Mali and Niger it is more than 90%, whereas in Cabo Verde,
Ghana and Nigeria it is closer to 60%. Read more

Critical Capital for African agrifood SMEs: A review of demand for and supply of risk capital for
agrifood SMEs in Sub-Sahara Africa. Based on field studies in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Mali. Read
more

Youth in Agricultural Cooperatives: Challenges And Opportunities: the main objective of this study
is to explore youth’s perspectives and needs for engaging in agricultural cooperatives. The following
knowledge questions were formulated, which we hope to give answers to throughout the
report. Read more

Youth for Growth: Transforming Economies through Agriculture: This report presents

recommendations for how the US government can lead global efforts to promote broad-based
agricultural development as a catalyst for improving youth livelihoods while preparing and
empowering youth to contribute to that growth themselves. Read more

Youth Engagement in Agricultural Value Chains across Feed the Future: A Synthesis Report This
report aims to inform Feed the Future (FTF) efforts moving forward to more strategically and
deliberately engage youth in market systems by providing insights from current FTF country
programs, Guatemala, Liberia, Nepal, and Uganda Read more

Women-Led Farms and Producer Organizations are Recreating the Litchi Value Chain in India. This
holistic, market-based approach to transforming the litchi value chain for women is making a great
change in the community. Read more

Case Studies on Youth Employment In Fragile Situations: report by ILO, UNDP, and UNHCR presents
examples of good practices from around the world, showcasing innovative approaches to youth
employment that help to build peace and resilience in fragile and conflict-affected situations. Read
more

Best Regards,

Astrid

98. FAO Publications

Here is a selection of titles proposed by FAO Publications for forum participants who would like to
read more on youth engagement and employment.

Knowledge, information and education

Developing the knowledge, skills and talent of youth to further food security and nutrition

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This publication includes a synthesis of a broad range of approaches and initiatives for developing
capacities, knowledge, and skills among youth – both women and men, to engage and empower
them to further food security and nutrition.

Further reading

Infographic on rural youth and education

YUNGA Challenge Badges

Productive tools, extension, advisory and financial services;

Sustainable agricultural mechanization: A framework for Africa

This Framework provides a menu of the priority elements to be considered by countries in Africa,
south of the Sahara in the process of developing their national strategies for sustainable agricultural
mechanization (SAM).

Training, education and mentorship programmes;

Hire services as a business enterprise: A training manual for small-scale mechanization service
providers
This manual for hire service providers covers machinery operation and maintenance, draught animal
care, financial procedures and other topics, organized in 5 modules and 27 sessions.

Rural migration in Tunisia: Drivers and patterns of rural youth migration and its impact on food
security and rural livelihoods in Tunisia 
This report calls for a strong political engagement both nationally and internationally to revive rural
economies and reverse trends such as low farming productivity and inadequate access to technology
and resources.

Junior Farmer Field and Life Schools − Manuals for trainers

This series includes 16 practical modules that provide step-by-step guidance to trainers that are
willing to start a Junior Farmer Field and Life School.

Further reading

Integrated pest management of Fall Armyworm on maize. A guide for farmer field schools in Africa

Farmers taking the lead

Innovation and new technologies

FAO’s work on agricultural innovation

This brochure highlights the importance of innovation as a means to achieve food security and the
Sustainable Development Goals. It also calls for a shift from interventions focusing on single
components of agricultural innovation towards a system-approach aimed at better responding to
smallholder farmers’ needs.

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Digital technologies in agriculture and rural areas

This report identifies basic conditions and enablers for digital agriculture transformation (e.g.
infrastructure, affordability, institutional support, use of social networks) and describes its impact on
agri-food systems.

Success stories on information and communication technologies for agriculture and rural
development (second edition)
ICTs can transform lives and improve livelihoods in agriculture by helping to secure savings, find
affordable insurance and tools to manage risk, increase access to financial services, and provide
business opportunities.

Further reading

Information and communication technology (ICT) in agriculture

Gender and ICTs

Tackling poverty and hunger through digital innovation

In action − Nuclear applications in agriculture

Use of mobile phones by the rural poor – Gender perspectives from selected Asian countries

Markets

Innovative markets for sustainable agriculture: How innovations in market institutions encourage
sustainable agriculture in developing countries
This publication presents 15 cases from around the world, providing insights into institutional change
and how a different type of market incentive contributes to the redefinition and adoption of
sustainable practices by farmers.

Policy-making processes

FAO’s work on social protection: Contributing to Zero Hunger, poverty reduction and resilience in
rural areas
This brochure highlights the role that social protection plays in addressing many of the barriers poor
rural households face in building resilient and sustainable livelihoods; it also shows that low-income
countries can afford to provide it for their citizens.

Youth and agriculture: Key challenges and concrete solutions

This publication shows how tailor-made educational programmes can provide rural youth with the
skills and insights needed to engage in farming and adopt environmentally friendly production
methods.

Rural Youth aged 15−17: The right season to seed the future

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Considering the challenges faced by rural youth, this report proposes policies to increase human
capital and channel resources towards youth aged 15–17 to ensure equal access to education and
decent jobs.

Preparing and accessing decent work amongst rural youth in Cambodia

This case study reports on gaps, including language, IT and technical skills in Cambodia’s agricultural
workers. In response to these challenges, policymakers have adopted technical and soft skill
development programmes to invest in the future of their agricultural workforce.

Further reading

The State of Food and Agriculture 2017

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the world 2017

Diagnóstico participativo de comunicación para el desarrollo con jóvenes rurales de Guatemala

Rural youth employment and agri-food systems in Kenya. A rapid context analysis

Emploi rural des jeunes et systèmes agroalimentaires au Sénégal

Rural youth employment and agri–food systems in Uganda

Promoting alternatives to migration for rural youth in Tunisia and Ethiopia

FAO's Integrated Country Approach (ICA) for promoting decent rural employment

Analysis of existing approaches for rural youth employment in Uganda

Decent rural employment, productivity effects and poverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa

Youth mobility, food security and rural poverty reduction (RYM)

FAO, private and public partnership model for youth employment in agriculture experiences from
Malawi, Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar archipelago

The rural youth mobility project: Methodology and results

Additional sources

http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/cfs-hlpe/comment/4211  

http://www.fao.org/publications/highlights-detail/en/c/1256280/

http://www.fao.org/publications/highlights-detail/en/c/1204620/   

http://www.fao.org/publications/highlights-detail/en/c/1149657/  

http://www.fao.org/rural-employment/work-areas/youth-employment/en/

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99. Apollo Segawa, Curad, Uganda

Youth and youthful women are full of energy  innovative and with many needs and scan for all
avaulable opportunity that can era them a decent income. In uganda as a predominantly agriculture
country, Youth have been very responsive to create own employement in the agro value chains. As
the managing director of CURAD. i started the national agribusiness innovation challenge 7 years ago.
I annually receive on average 250 applications form young people who are dricen innovatibe and
what to start an agribusiness. The promnise of technical BDS financial and general agribsuiness
Incubation support to these young people drives them to be part of a supportiv esystemthat can eran
them a decent income in agribusiness. Each youth and women led agribsusiness start up creates on
average 5-10 jobs within 3 years and the success rate of incubation spported enyterprise is over 90%.
Thus i strongly believe that agribuinses incubation is the key way to get youth into agribsuiness and
create youth emplyement in uganda and Africa. At CURAD over 300o jobs ave been created by over
300 agro SME's in a space of 6 years!
Apollo Segawa www.curadincubator.org
CURAD Executive director

www.fao.org/cfs/cfs-hlpe