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.