Transcript Slide 1

Institutions and Mechanism to influence Youth in
Agriculture Value Chain
FANRPAN 2012 Regional Policy Dialogue
White Sands Hotel, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Evodius Rutta
Tanzania Youth Environmental Network (TAYEN)
OUTLINE
 Youth Demographic Profile: Global /Tanzania.
 Overview of Tanzania’s Agriculture Sector.
 Highlights of Institutions and Mechanism to engage
Youth in Agriculture Value Chain.
 Challenges
 Conclusion and Recommendation.
Youth Demographic Profile..
 In Tanzania
Youth between age 15 to 35 make 35% of the
national population.
47% of the national population are boys while
53% are girls.
Youth unemployment stands 17%, with higher
rates in urban areas than in rural areas.
Overview of Tanzania's Agric Sector

Agriculture remains and will continue to be mainstay of
Tanzania’s economy. 80% of the population depend on
agriculture while for rural population agriculture is a primary
economic activity.

Agriculture employs 70% of active labour force with women
being the major labour supply in the sector.

Agriculture contributes 45-50% of National Gross Domestic
Product(GDP) and brings about 66% of foreign exchange while
also providing bulk raw materials(cotton, coffee, tobacco fruits,
vegetables etc) for local industries.

Major Cash Crops: Coffee, Cotton, Tobacco and Cashew nuts
while Major food Crops: Maize, Paddy Rice, Millet, Sorghum,
Beans etc.

Important animals: cattle, chicken and goats.
Overview of Tanzania's Agric Sector.......

Land: out of 94.5 ha of national land, 44 million ha are classified as
suitable for agriculture( arable land).

Farm Size: Agriculture is dominated by small-scale subsistence
farming mainly smallholders who operate on 0.5ha to 5ha.

Agricultural labour force: farming is dominated by hand hoe that
limits productivity while women supply 70% of agricultural labour
force.

Heavily depending on rain fed agriculture.
IDENTIFIED KEY BARRIERS
 Lack of access to information on available opportunities in
agriculture.
 Lack better farming techniques
 Lack of Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship skills.
 Inadequate and lack of clear youth friendly policies.
 Lack of finance and credit facilities for youth farming projects
KEY MECHANISMS
 Re-introduce agriculture in primary and secondary
schools.
 Promote school based agricultural projects.
 Design innovative and attractive financing and credit
for youth in agriculture.
 Facilitate formation of youth farmers cooperative
unions.
 Provide training on better farming techniques.
 Promote short term crops including vegetables, fruits,
vanilla, spices, chilles.
POTENTIAL INSTITUTIONS
 FAMILY at household level.
 Academic and Training Institutions i.e. MATIs, LITI and SUA.
 National and Local Government i.e.. MAFCs, MYDvt, PMOLG
 International Institutions i.e. UN-FAO, WB, USAID, EU, JICA,
AfDB
 Private Sector i.e. local banks(CRDB, TIB,NMB), MFIs, TPSF
 Local and International NGOs i.e. 4H, Farm Africa, Heifer
Institution…..other countries

Mauritius: National Youth Council & Agriculture Research and
Extension Unit., National Federation of Young Farmers

Malawi: Civil Society Agriculture Network(CISANET) and Farmers
Union. of Malawi

Swaziland: National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAM Board)

Zimbabwe: EBENEZERR a private institution that has established
demonstration farms to train youth.

South Africa: National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and
South African Youth Council
CHALLENGES
 Inadequate or no budget allocation in institutions
to mainstream “youth” in agriculture (Strategic
Plans)
 Lack of monitoring and evaluation to check
progress of youth programs in agriculture.
Conclusion
 Agriculture has unique power to eradicate poverty in
Tanzania and across Africa.
 Young people have the strength and energy to foster
agricultural development, there is no food secure
Africa without African young farmers.