An expert with Rural Entrepreneurs Institute has outlined major reasons why the youth shun agricultural ventures as lack of practical oriented agribusiness skills and inadequate information related to clear policy implementations, available agribusiness opportunities and
conventional education systems in Tanzania.
Omari Mwaimu, Institutional Coordinator of the Amsha Institute of Rural Entrepreneurs East Africa, cited the reasons recently in Lindi Region during the Tanzania Youth in Agribusiness Forum.
The event was graced by Lindi Regional Commissioner Ludovick Mwananzila.
To the youth, agriculture is not a viable business though there are a good number of success stories and case studies which prove that youth can successfully participate in agribusiness project development such as poultry, dairy, training and advisory services, agro forestry, fishery and agro processing.
After identifying the problem, as stakeholders in this sector, we decided to organise Tanzania Youth in Agribusiness forum to create an opportunity for the youth from this part of the country to interact, discuss, learn and share experiences on how best to exploit agribusiness opportunities within and outside the region.
According to 2012 census the Tanzania population was 43,625,434 of which 60 per cent (26,175,260) is a working group.
This figures show how important it is to invest in youth agribusiness given that agriculture sector remains the biggest employer in Tanzania, employing over 70 per centre of Tanzanians.
Commenting on the lessons learnt from the forum, he said acquiring land is not a problem for youth who are seriously intending to venture into agriculture in Tanzania, but the problem is the approach which they use to access land and their readiness to involve themselves in agriculture is the major problem.
“It is not compulsory for the youth to own land for them to be able to practice agriculture. There are abundant pieces of land out there, leased at a very low price with no stringent terms and conditions, but the problem is the approach they use,” he said.
Further, the youth learnt that personal efforts and commitments needed more than other factors to engaging themselves in agribusiness activities and that they should have a wider options in agribusiness not necessarily to engage in crops farming but that they can stand anywhere along the agribusiness value chain.
Meanwhile, he urged the youth to commit themselves to agribusiness as their employment and main source of income and also stay abreast of the advanced technological innovations and well improved communication infrastructures which, if well utilised, would bring a great revolution in agriculture.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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