Youth in Agriculture Policy 2022-2027.

The Youth in Agriculture Policy envisions a future where young individuals are empowered to actively engage in all facets of the agri-food system. Its primary objective is to foster youth participation, thereby enhancing food and nutrition security, promoting commercial agriculture, ensuring sustainable livelihoods, and strengthening resilience against climate change and disasters. The timeframe of the policy is 5 years covering the period from 2022 to 2027. The objectives of this policy are: (i) to increase access to productive resources, financial services and markets; (ii) to enhance knowledge, education and skills; (iii) to support innovation and transition to commercial agriculture; and (iv) to strengthen sustainability and resilience to the impacts of climate change.
Young farmers' participation in the agri-food system will be strengthened through better representation of young farmers and especially young women in their access to agricultural land, equipment, tools and agro-inputs, financial services and markets. The identification and mapping of arable land will be supported for commercial agri-development. Urban and land poor communities will be encouraged to pilot container, vertical and hydroponic farming systems. Young farmers will be included in the distribution of tools, equipment, and agro-inputs such as improved seeds, livestock, fertilizers, veterinary products, animal feed, by the Ministry of Agriculture. Subsidies will be granted to young farmers for the purchase of agricultural machinery. Youth participation in livestock production will be promoted. Young farmers' access to niche and export markets will be supported, and the Ministry of Agriculture will work with local government, the private sector and partners to ensure youth groups have access to market infrastructure and post-harvest equipment.
Agricultural education and training opportunities will be improved, and youth-inclusive agriculture extension services and programmes will be promoted. School agriculture curriculum will be reviewed for relevance to commercial farming, agro-entrepreneurship for young men and women. Specific agriculture and business trainings will be designed to be provided solely to young farmers. Youth will be actively targeted for all government agriculture assistance programmes. The negative perception of agriculture among young people will be addressed. A Young Farmers Association and youth farmer database with digital platform will be established for information sharing and collaboration.
Youth's access to emerging technology, innovation and networking support will be increased. Their capacities for entrepreneurship and small business management in the agri-food system will be strengthened, and value adding opportunities will be increased for young agro-entrepreneurs. The mentorship between young aspiring farmers and commercial farmers will be developed. The resilience of the agriculture sector to the impacts of climate change and natural disasters will be increased by improving the Ministry of Agriculture’s leadership capacity to address climate resilient and sustainable agriculture, and by promoting capacity building of young farmers in agroecology and environmentally sustainable practices. The capacity of rural youth will be increased to better prepare, respond and recover from natural disasters.