South Africa’s Department of Agriculture has reaffirmed that the long-term success of the country’s agricultural sector depends on greater youth participation, highlighting the importance of investing in young farmers, entrepreneurs and innovators to strengthen food security, rural development and economic growth. Speaking during a Youth Month roundtable held at the Agricultural Research Council’s Nietvoorbij campus ...

The Zimbabwean government is developing a youth-focused agricultural investment plan that will run until 2030 as part of efforts to transform the country’s agricultural sector, create jobs and strengthen economic growth. The initiative forms part of Zimbabwe’s commitment to implementing the African Union’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration, which seeks to accelerate ...

Land reform – Repositioning land reform in the minds of the youth is not about changing perceptions of land itself; it’s about changing realities on the ground. For years, public discourse has focused heavily on the act of land restoration and ownership. Yet, as land is being restituted, many young people are still struggling to ...

As South Africa commemorates Youth Month, the Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa (Land Bank) is calling for renewed efforts to remove barriers that prevent young people from participating fully in the agricultural sector. The appeal comes at a time when youth unemployment remains one of the country’s most pressing socio-economic challenges. With ...

A new youth-focused agricultural pilot in South Africa is testing whether small-scale agritech enterprises can help address two of the country’s biggest socio-economic challenges simultaneously: rising youth unemployment and growing food insecurity. The initiative, launched by Afrika Tikkun with support from impact investor E Squared Investments, aims to develop unemployed youth into micro-farming entrepreneurs through ...

Ghana is seeing a surge in youth participation in agriculture, but a growing debate is emerging over whether this shift reflects genuine opportunity or a lack of alternatives in the broader economy. According to recent analysis, agriculture is attracting more young people than at any point in recent years, supported by government programmes, agritech growth, ...

Tanzania’s National Assembly has approved a 1.105 trillion shilling agriculture budget for the 2026/27 financial year, enabling the nationwide rollout of the Building a Better Tomorrow (BBT) programme aimed at tackling youth unemployment through commercial farming. The initiative, championed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, marks a shift from pilot projects to a full-scale national programme. ...

Young Africans are stepping into environmental leadership roles as older activists decline, driving new energy in climate and food system advocacy. Across Africa, a new generation of young people is stepping forward to lead environmental and food systems activism, filling a growing gap left by an ageing civil society movement. Experts warn that while older ...

Africa’s youth hold the key to agricultural transformation, but systemic barriers continue to limit their transition from participation to leadership. Africa’s Youth Advantage Meets Agricultural Potential Africa is home to the world’s youngest population, with more than 60% under the age of 25. At the same time, agriculture remains one of the continent’s most important ...

L-R, the United Nations Assistant Secretary General Youth Affairs, Dr Fellipe Paullier and Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Abubakar Kyari during the couresty visit. Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has emphasised the critical role of youth participation in transforming the country’s agricultural sector, noting that increased involvement will accelerate ...