[FAO] [FSN Forum in Africa]<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/africa> DISCUSSION No. 11 • Digest No. 4 • see the online discussion<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/activities/discussions/youth-in-agriculture> Sustaining the Impact of Capacity Development Initiatives for African Youth in Agriculture until 17 November 2017 [icon]How to participate Send your contribution to [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>or post it on the FSN Forum in Africa<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/africa> upon registration here<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/user/register>. <mailto:[log in to unmask]> *** [icon]Comment participer Envoyez votre contribution à [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>ou téléchargez-le sur le Forum FSN en Afrique <http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/fr/africa>après enregistrement ici<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/fr/user/register>. [photo] Dear members and colleagues, We share below 6 new contributions and the facilitator's feedback to the online discussion “Sustaining the Impact of Capacity Development Initiatives for African Youth in Agriculture<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/activities/discussions/youth-in-agriculture>”. All inputs are available on the website<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/africa> and in the proceedings<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/sites/default/files/files/FSNForum_africa/11_youth/PROCEEDINGS-AFRICA-Youth.docx>. To participate, please feel free to reply directly to this email or to post online after registration. Comments are welcome in English<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/activities/discussions/youth-in-agriculture> and French<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/fr/africa/discussions/youth-in-agriculture>. Thank you to all participants so far! Your FSN Forum team *** Chers membres et collègues, Veuillez trouver ci-après 6 nouveaux commentaires et la réaction du facilitateur de la discussion en ligne “Favoriser un impact soutenu des initiatives de renforcement des capacités pour la jeunesse africaine dans l'agriculture<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/fr/africa/discussions/youth-in-agriculture>”. Tous sont disponibles sur le site web <http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/fr/africa> et sur le compte-rendu<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/sites/default/files/files/FSNForum_africa/11_youth/PROCEEDINGS-AFRICA-Youth.docx> de la discussion Pour prendre part à la discussion vous pouvez répondre directement à ce courriel ou afficher votre commentaire en ligne après inscription. Vos contributions sont les bienvenues en anglais<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/activities/discussions/youth-in-agriculture> et en français<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/fr/africa/discussions/youth-in-agriculture>. Merci à tous les participants jusqu'ici! Votre équipe du Forum FSN Justin Chisenga, FAO, Italy<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8416> - facilitator of the discussion<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8416> Dear All, A few more challenges youth in agriculture face after participating in capacity building (CD) initiatives have been added to the list since my last post. These are lack of follow-up and continuity by organizations on their CD initiatives/projects, inability to implement recommendations made during CD initiatives/projects, and lack of “decent jobs” in agriculture. The lack of “decent jobs” forces the youth graduating in agriculture to look for jobs in other sectors. [Anna Antwi] Regarding question 2, from the contributions made to date, I have identified six contributions (with some good details) highlighting examples of initiatives or projects that are working or worked on addressing sustainability issues of capacity development targeting youth in agriculture. These are: Togo<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8321>: an NGO - Entreprises Territoires et Développement (ETD) has setup a fund - CIDEA (Capital Investissement pour le Développement d’Entreprises dans le secteur Agricole) - to finance agro-food enterprises and a business incubation and promotion centre to support young people in the agro-food sector (and later in other sectors). Nigeria<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8359>: the IITA Youth Agripreneurs initiative equips young agripreneurs with skills in production processes and business management to help them to become both agriculturists and people who understand how the business world operates. Nigeria<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8362>: the National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research runs an undergraduate programme called Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme which provides work experience to students trained in aquaculture and fishery. Nigeria<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8411>: a project by the Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA) (during the period 2003-2011) worked with farmer groups (in which 70% of the members were youth). The project trained farmers in good agricultural practices and marketing strategies in maize production and provided agricultural inputs at subsidized rate. Kenya:<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8375> Greenfarm International is helping young farmers to develop contract farming to collect the fodder and sell it to the organization. Greenfarm International finances all purchases, transport and storage. Kenya<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8394>: Agriterra is building capacities of youth to enable them to be part of agricultural cooperatives by helping them to get organised into Youth Councils. The supply their produces to the cooperatives and other interested in agriculture. This arrangement makes it possible for the youth to access finance (loans), based on the produce or savings, from the cooperatives. Peer to peer exchange among young farmers is also promoted. I have the following questions to the contributors of the initiatives: · To: Atsu Sename (TOGO); Ololade Adesola, Musa Usman Musa and Philip Ifejika (NIGERIA); James Aucha and Hillary Maket (KENYA) – what are they lessons, if any, that have you learned from your post-capacity development initiatives that you could further share on this Forum? · To: Atsu Sename (TOGO), Ololade Adesola and Philip Ifejika (NIGERIA) - what specific support is provided to the youth after they have gone through the CD initiatives that you have highlighted? I am sure there are more examples of initiatives addressing of post-capacity development sustainability. I and my colleagues will be happy to hear about them. Regards, Justin CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED [icon]Eileen Omosa, <http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8415> We Grow Ideas, Kenya<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8397> Sustaining African Youth in Agriculture Congratulations to all the young people practising agriculture and related enterprises. It is a great achievement from the perspective of one who was a youth when the common narrative was that agriculture, especially small scale agriculture was for those who failed to qualify for “office” jobs – or was it a trick used by our parents to keep us in school? We now know it differently. Whatever career choice one makes, agriculture remains a noble profession. No human being; billionaires, world leaders, the monetary poor, or the young, can survive without food and other agricultural products. Does that sound like one can never go wrong with agriculture as a career choice? Read the full contribution online<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8415> [icon]Peter Steele, <http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8414> Independent consultant, Australia <http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8397> FSN Network Debate Sustaining the Impact of Capacity Development Initiatives for African Youth in Agriculture Contribution: Planning for the big picture Hello everyone, Here’s my take on some of the macro-issues that lie behind the five questions raised. You’ll see that I’m generally sceptical about what young people in Africa can do for themselves either individually or collectively given the limited resources and opportunities that face the majority. This, however, should not detract from what some are already doing successfully and from the the investment required of those currently in charge – of countries, regional/national institutions, banks, investment funds, companies and similar. And too, the contribution of those on the outside looking into the continent not all of whom will be pro-Africa, pro-youth or neutral in approach. Read the full contribution online <http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8414> [icon]Maina Karuiru, Food Quality and Safety Seriveces Ltd, Kenya<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8413> Good People I promised to offer solutions to challenges that I posted a few days ago. Here we go. First a brief about our Company and solutions after the brief. Our Business food quality and safety services Ltd in Kenya is full time consultancy company based in Kenya and offering solutions to solve challenges in the Agribusiness and Horticultural Industry in Kenya to make it profitable and attractive especially to the young people. Among others, our main roles include 1. Help drive efficiency and make the farms profitable. This involves looking at everything in the value chain from Land preparation; growing aspects, Growing mix, and Pack house Operations and all the way to the market, and putting the necessary mitigation measures in place from capacity building, GAP compliance among others. 2. Connecting local farmers and companies to both local and international to markets. This ensures that they deal directly with the markets as opposed to Middlemen or Brokers, which in turn ensures high income for Farmers. 3. Work with export Companies and Farmers to put in place the most efficient water utilization methods, from water harvesting, irrigation systems and techniques that will ensure water as a scarce resource is used efficiently, and cost effective. Use of best practices in water management , gained from countries like Israel that are water deficient yet are self-sustainable in food production. 4. Help Export companies with Implementation of Quality, Safety and Environmental standards required by European Union e.g. Global Gap, BRC- (British Retail Consortium Certification), as well individual Buyers (supermarket) standards. 5. Apart from Consultancy in the Horticultural Industry I’m also a serious avocado Farmer farming profitably for the last 9 years. Read the full contribution online <http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8413> [icon]Musa Usman Musa, Kano State agricultural and rural development authority, Nigeria <http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8412> In response to question 2 on examples of existing post-capacity development and the success story: in Nigeria specifically Kano state we had a series of capacity development initiatives, fundamentally, number trainings organized and run by "Kano State agricultural and rural development authority (KNARDA)" from 2003-2011. During this period, KNARDA initiated a project "Management training plot (MTP)". This project aimed at boosting productivity in Maize production. Farmers were trained, agricultural inputs were given at subsidized rate ( fertilizer =N1000/bag, seed = 500/10kg ......). In Bunkure LG of Kano State we have 267 farmers' groups, and each group constitutes of at least 25 members 70% of which were youths. In addition, each group entitled to 45 bags of fertilizer, 20 bags of which were meant for the cultivation of 2 hectares to be managed collectively by the group members, while the 25 bags were for the individual group members. The 2 hectares were used as the MTP Plot, where the extension agent facilitates the activities in the MTP plots. Farmers were trained on good agricultural practices and marketing strategies in maize production. Farmers were well capacitated, but unfortunately, due to lack of follow up and continuity as a result of changes in government policies the project is no longer visible. If that project (MTP) been sustained till present, Am sure Kano state alone can produce maize beyond National demands. At this juncture, am arguing government /NGOS to strengthen their efforts in youth capacity building and it's sustainability for brighter future. In response to question3 : What post-capacity development support do the youth need? What can the youth do to support each other in developing their skills and capacities? In my opinion, the fundamental post-capacity development support our youths require is finance. If our youth could obtained a financial support, am sure the issue of unemployment in Nigeria will become a history. In Kano Kano State for example, majority of our farmers especially youth, can play a role of extension agent in other states due to series of trainings they undergone. They have the skills of agricultural entrepreneurship, but capital is the major impediment. If our youth obtained capital they will establish a business, by doing so, they can support each other by sharing ideas and engaging their friends in one activity or the other, and that can reduce unemployment in the country. And also, when our youth established business, they will serve as subject of emulation in the society. [icon]Michel Ige, Concerned Africans Youth Forum - CAYF, Ghana<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8409> Dear Justin and all, Thanks for putting up this briliant idea. I think that basically the challenges are: (1) The lack of follow up after the capacity building excercise, like coming up with some post-activities. (2) The inability to address the key issues that were raised by all the stakeholders during the capacity development initiatives. (3) Inability to implement some of the recommendations on the key challenges that were proffered. (4) Funds Funds Funds! This is a general challenge but the honest truth in my opinion is, lack of access to funding for small start-ups and small holder young farmers. The capacity building initiatives are a brilliant and laudable idea but no matter how great the idea is, if their is no access to funding, then the excercise won't have much impact. [icon]Aklilu Nigussie, Ethiopian Institutes of Agricultural Research, Ehiopia <http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8408> Dear all; 1. For me the challenge of capacity development in youth agriculture sustaining is the enabling environment to implement the theoretical and practical capacity development (these enabling could be financial source, access to credit, access to land, and other endowments) which are the basic source to implement the aptitude undertaken. 2. In most cases creating a form of business co-operatives can have a chance to exist with 3 to 5 youth engaging in supply chain; for instance family poultry and dairy small co-operative business in Ethiopia; yet this has its own constraints because youth similarity of interest and thoughts of the business. 3. The problem in youth agricultural participation in Africa is not only a capacity gap on business incubation or innovation system but the start-up engine to the initial. Creating profitable agricultural production system can lead to diffuse skills and knowledge to the low concentrated district and PA as its own innovation and system development. 4. There are technologies that can enhance development with scaling out all it package and with the innovation adopted it for each assumed youth character. 5. Yes indeed; because it can facilitate and ease the transformation of scaling out technologies with an accelerated velocity for the implementation and success to the supply chain with filling the information and demand gaps. www.fao.org/fsnforum/africa<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/africa> [log in to unmask]<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/disclaimer-copyright> ######################################################################## To unsubscribe from the FSN-Dialogue-L list, click the following link: https://listserv.fao.org/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=FSN-Dialogue-L&A=1