Call for Stronger Support for Youth Involvement in Agriculture and ICT

This Communiqué (also available in French) was launched by participants from the African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) regions at the “Youth Exchange and Training Workshop on Web 2.0 for Agricultural and Rural Development” (Accra, Ghana, March 7 to 11 2011) brought together by the “Agriculture, Rural Development and Youth in the Information Society” (ARDYIS) initiative, implemented by the Technical Center for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA) in collaboration with several partners. In it, the participants call for agricultural policy support that substantially matches their "novel and strategic technological use, ingenious nature, enthusiasm and demonstrable successes" through "equally thoughtful, dynamic multilevel and relevant agricultural policies across the ACP group of countries."

Their policy recommendations include the following:

• Agricultural Studies- Recommendation 1: "A thorough revision of the curricula used across the ACP group of countries. This ...[must] reflect the dynamism of the agricultural sector by including courses and modules that equip students with the skills to write and implement business plans, appreciate, utilize and develop ICT tools...."
• Research and Educational Incentives - Recommendation 2: "The Provision of a mixture of favourable scholarships, tuition grants and concessionary education and research loans to those under age 35 who are keen to pursue studies in critical areas of agricultural and rural development, such as agronomy, agricultural extension biotechnology, food science and technology, agricultural engineering, agricultural chemistry and water management...."
• Capacity Building - Recommendation 3: "Fund and pilot a robust peer-extension, localized training on good agricultural practices, agro-processing and an ICT officer program to aid young and emerging farmers master their trade and boost capacity in far-flung regions and urban areas alike. This may also be integrated into national youth service programmes. We also advocate greater resources for researchers at universities in ACP countries who are focused on unearthing solutions to agricultural challenges...."
• Financial Aid - Recommendation 4: "Create a legible, collateral free micro-credit environment that offers incentives tailored to the financial needs of young farmers, and ICT software developers who are focused on rural development and agriculture. In the short term, we also call on ACP governments to allocate funds (loans and grants) specifically for young farmers and ICT software developers...."
• ICT Proliferation - Recommendation 5: "The establishment of regional ICT incubators over the next five years to develop contextual and efficient technological responses to agricultural problems. This should complement the process of decentralization which we urge ACP policy makers to accelerate immediately. Central to this effort is an emphasis on training to boost the capacity of farmers and trainers to ensure the effective application of ICTs in the sector...."
• The Law, Gender and Marginalized Youth - Recommendation 6: "The provision of legal structures to facilitate enhanced participation of the youth in ICT, particularly women, physically challenged youth and marginalized youth with the required skills and interest is vital. We forthrightly endorse the prioritization of these groups in land reform programmes. We also urge ACP countries to meaningfully institutionalize youth involvement in agricultural policy making, giving full consideration to the varying needs of men and women and the different demands they face...."

Click here to download the English version of this document.

Click here to download the French version of this document.

For more information, contact:

Ken Loehnto

lohento@cta.int