The Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr Nteranya Sanginga has called on Southern African countries to tap into the youth population in the region to address food insecurity and end unemployment.
Addressing policymakers and youths in the
region at a conference organized by Centre for Coordination of Agricultural
Research and Development in Southern Africa (CCARDESA), Dr Sanginga said the
youth population in the region should be seen as more of an asset than a
problem.
“Youths have the energy,
and if we are able to tap into this energy we will be able to advance
agriculture on the continent,” Dr Sanginga who was represented by Dr Alfred
Dixon, said in Durban, South Africa, 3-6 August.
Speaking on the topic: Unlocking Agribusiness Opportunities for
Youth in Southern Africa; the Director General gave an account of
how a youth program (IITA Youth Agripreneurs) initiated by IITA in 2012 is
attracting youths into agriculture.
“From zero dollars,
these youths have been able to grow their income to $700 per month,” he
explained.
“On their own, these young men and women are today
managing different enterprises including cassava, maize, vegetables, soybean,
banana and plantains, fish, and livestock,” he added.
According to him, the
experience of IITA from the youth program clearly demonstrated that with institutional
support and mentoring, youths could be engaged in agriculture to make a decent
living.
The IITA Youth
Agripreneurs (IYA) also gave their presentation during the break-away sessions,
in the sub-theme 3 group tagged; The
Role of Youth in Innovations and Agribusiness Solution: Cassava Case Study by
the IITA Youth Agripreneurs. The presentation was titled: “Cassava Product, Processing and Marketing.”
Mustapha Quadri, a
member of IYA, gave the presentation after which he took questions from the
audience. The presentation was based on the various products and value addition
that can be derived from cassava. Cassava products were concentrated on due to
the fact that the exhibition focused on cassava-based products. Participants
visiting the exhibition stands liked the cassava products (eg fufu,
garri, tidbits, chinchin, cake and cookies).
Earlier in his keynote
address, the Executive Director, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa
(FARA), Dr Yemi Akinbamijo said, “Agricultural sector needs to be transformed
in order to provide employment for the youth in Africa and we need to increase
value addition to attract the youth.”
The Executive Director
of CCARDESA, Prof Timothy Simalenga on his part commended IITA and other
partners for initiating youth programs to attract youths into agriculture, and
emphasized that CCARDESA would continue to support agricultural development in
the region with emphasis on getting more youths engaged in agriculture.
Those who attended the
meeting from IITA were: Dr Alfred Dixon, Mr Godwin Atser, Ugheoke Avoedoghia
Diana, Mustapha Quadri, Christophe Kongolo, Caroline Liwena, Bupe Gwasa, Ronald
Ongario and Christine Zamugurha.
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