Why agriculture needs more young people in the industry
Agriculture experts are trying to recruit young people into the industry. Without youth in agriculture, experts say the profile of farming could dramatically change.
Savannah Norment, left, with cousin Delaney Saunders and her sister Rayney Norment return with several gallons during their morning of picking blueberries at the Nesbit Blueberry Plantation in Nesbit, Miss.
Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal/AP
鈥淎griculture has an image problem,鈥澛燼cknowledged the聽聽(YPARD), a youth network that aims to connect young people by offering a conduit to share information and get excited about agriculture. Along with other agricultural youth networks throughout the world, YPARD is working to give agriculture a facelift, in order to pierce through the聽聽that agriculture is聽
The industry lacks a聽progressive image聽and younger people do not know of the career options available in agriculture, noted聽,听
In less developed parts of the world, negative perceptions of a life in food production have resulted in many young people moving to the city seeking prospects of a greater livelihood.聽聽according to a recent report by the聽听(滨滨贰顿).
The IIED outlined the possible effects of the exodus:聽鈥淚t is not just a local employment and livelihood issue. If today鈥檚 rural youth cannot or do not want to become tomorrow鈥檚 farmers, how can we hope to feed a fast-rising world population?鈥�
But many initiatives are working to help curb the flow of young people away from rural areas.
The key is exposure and education, according to YPARD鈥�
In Australia,听, for example, aims to increase the awareness of the variety options available for youth on the land. By delivering events and activities that highlight agriculture as dynamic and innovative, such as the聽聽Art4Agriculture aims to present a sector聽
In Ghana, the youth-led聽聽(SavaNet), focuses on advocacy, capacity development training, provision of agricultural extension, and rural advisory services, as well as the promotion of market access for farmers.
Based in Finland, the聽聽(RYEurope)鈥攁n umbrella organization for 21 youth organizations across 18 European countries鈥攈as approximately half a million young participants. Along with running seminars, events, and international training courses throughout the continent, RYEurope takes an active role in developing, advocating, and lobbying agricultural and environmental policies.
These projects highlight the important role that youth can play in improving food security. Young minds are needed, according to the聽,听