Creating Opportunities for Women and Youth Through Agribusiness

In the midst of technological advancement, there is no denying that agribusiness remains central to creating food security, job creation, and inclusive growth in many low-income countries.

It provides decent jobs and incomes for women and youth in agribusiness, which have an important spill-over effect on economic and social development outcomes.

But current trends show that some countries are shedding human labor, and traditional ways of food production aren’t exactly what many will call admirable.

Agriculture is slowly dying, and the impacts of climate change and conflicts are threatening the progress towards addressing issues like hunger, poverty, and unemployment.

But are we getting ahead of ourselves? Perhaps, a strong focus on women and the youth in the agricultural sector can create lots of job opportunities while at the same time contributing significantly to the country’s economy.

The future of the youth according to many is technology and the internet. Well, that might be true but what many haven’t realized is that the two can be utilized in the agricultural sector.

Farming has a great potential and incorporating technology will go a long way in bringing satisfaction both career-wise and financially.

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Technological innovations and the internet are opening up a plethora of opportunities worth not passing up. Urbanization and the ever-changing diets are calling for new and exceptional ways of processing, marketing, and the consumption of food.

Furthermore, if one can produce exclusively healthy farm produces free of chemicals and other harmful substances, ready market is a guarantee. But why focus on women and the youth?

For one, we have all had enough of empty promises from the majority of the men holding good positions in the government and other jobs.

While the focus on addressing gender gaps in several sectors of the economy feature only the educated, majority of innovative women are in the rural areas.

These women are not asking for new rhetoric or promises. They only want to better their families and empower themselves economically. They want to be respected and recognized in their developmental roles.

The best way to enhance these women’s productive capacities is by enabling them to have a favorable environment to do their farming and other income-generating activities to create more wealth.

The youth, on the other hand, are innovative, driven by change, and are perpetually looking for new ways to make their lives easy.

Investment in the right innovations in the agricultural sector goes a long way in accelerating development through the youth both in rural and urban centers.

African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries all agree that youth employment is a key determinant factor for sustainable development. This means that an empowered workforce begins with the engagement of youth at all levels.

Leveraging the countless opportunities in the agricultural sector and offering them support will come in handy in motivating them t