Dr. David Amudavi the Executive Director of Biovision Africa Trust participated in the Regenerative Agriculture Conference organized by Practical Action in Kisumu Kenya from 11-3 September 2023. David participated in the session on Youth and private sector engagement in regenerative agriculture: what is working?’ where he presented on ‘Youth and Private Sector Engagement in Regenerative Agriculture: Vision, Challenges, and Opportunities’. The conference presented a unique opportunity for stakeholders in agriculture and development to converge and exchange insights on the implementation and scaling of regenerative agriculture programs overseen by Practical Action and funded by IKEA Foundation. The objectives of the workshop were 1. Networking; 2. Explore new opportunities; 3. Policy frameworks; 4. Engage learnings.
Additionally, it aimed to facilitate policy discussions, identify avenues for future initiatives, and bolster public awareness and support for regenerative agriculture. The event attracted a diverse array of 150 participants, including policymakers, practitioners, leaders of NGOs, project managers, researchers, and young farmers, offering engaging panel discussions, presentations, and on-site visits.
David in his address, underscored the pressing issues of youth unemployment rate, which is currently three times higher than that of adults across the globe. Shockingly, as also noted by the conference concept note two-thirds of young people find themselves either unemployed or working in precarious, low-paying jobs. The global landscape has been further marred by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted job markets and food systems, leading to an alarming increase of up to 161 million people suffering from hunger.
In many developing countries, agriculture serves as the bedrock of the economy, contributing to over 25% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Engaging young individuals in agriculture presents an attainable, timely, and crucial avenue for growth. This engagement is pivotal for bolstering local food systems, nourishing communities, and providing meaningful employment opportunities for the increasing youth population.
He noted that Youth play a pivotal role in driving positive change and transformation within rural areas and agrifood systems. Their involvement is crucial in various aspects, as they contribute to revitalizing local economies, fostering innovation, strengthening civil society organizations (CSOs), responsible management of natural resources, and influencing public policies for rural development. However, despite their potential, several challenges impede their full engagement in agriculture.
David stressed that any policies and initiatives designed to support youth engagement in food systems must be grounded in the principles of rights, equity, agency, and recognition. Ensuring that young individuals have access to resources, knowledge, and opportunities is essential for their meaningful participation. These efforts are not only about creating jobs for youth but also about fostering transitions to sustainable food systems. Policies and programs should prioritize the inclusion of marginalized youth and underrepresented communities to promote a more equitable food system.
He emphasized the need for coherent policies that can drive the transformation of food systems while enhancing their overall performance. These policies should aim to stimulate demand for sustainable products, incentivize incremental improvements across all aspects of food production, and raise legal requirements and industry norms. Such interventions can create an environment where sustainable practices are not only encouraged but also mandated, leading to a more sustainable and resilient food system.
Youth engagement is not limited to agriculture alone as it extends to market development and trade facilitation. David highlighted the importance of business growth, both within Africa and beyond. Capacity building for all key actors in the food supply chain is crucial to enhance competitiveness. Moreover, creating an enabling environment through sector governance can unlock the potential of youth and promote sustainability. Information systems that facilitate coordination, decision-making, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) are also essential components of youth engagement in the private sector. Overall, the youth can be involved in: Intensification and extensification of our agriculture; Revolutionizing agricultural extension & business development support systems; Development of marketing structures and value chains for agroecological products and markets; Zero-Waste Economy in the agriculture sector; and Institutional and policy enabling environment.
In conclusion, regenerative agriculture offers entrepreneurial pathways for young individuals and a range of diverse employment prospects. Unlocking the potential of our youth is vital, granting them access to education and knowledge is necessary for active involvement across various agricultural value chains.
Harnessing innovations and information systems can strongly attract youth engagement. Demonstrating the sustainability of regenerative agriculture not only appeals to young people but also appeals to the interest of the private sector. To make youth and the private sector pivotal in regenerative agriculture, political support, effective governance, favorable environments, and strategic investments are essential incentives. Women involvement is also very key to development of regenerative agriculture. David shared in his presentation some of the emerging results of the regenerative agriculture project collaboration in Makueni County by BvAT and ENVIU supported by IKEA Foundation.
Thus, the Call-to-Action commitments made by the conference participants reflected a shared dedication to fostering meaningful change in the realm of regenerative agriculture. They will aim to transform the agricultural systems into more sustainable, inclusive, and equitable models by:
- Working together to develop and sustain a pluralistic and inclusive extension service that supports Regenerative Agriculture.
- Collaborating to improve access to land and finance for young people as key drivers for youth entrepreneurial engagement.
- Developing a clear route to markets for regenerative agriculture products.
- Harmonizing policies that support regenerative agriculture, mainstreaming youth, and gender.
Some of the emerging results from the Regenerative agriculture project collaboration in Makueni County by BvAT and ENVIU supported by IKEA Foundation.