Awakening Africa’s Sleeping Giant: Youth in Agribusiness
I’d want to ask the youth a very interesting question. I’ll pose a hypothetical one. As there aren’t any youth in front of me, I’ll direct it to you, the reader (pretend to be the youth).
‘What industries or sectors do you think offer the easiest opportunities for starting a business?’
Chances are you will say ‘agriculture’, which is absolutely correct.
I uncovered some interesting data that sheds light about Africa’s youth population and opportunities for them in the agricultural value chain. According to an article by Prof. Muhinda and Ms Kigongo, on Kilimo Kwanza, by 2050, Africa will have over 850 million young people. To put this into context, out of 2.5 billion people on the continent, a 1/3 of them will be the youth. The median age of these youth by 2050, will be 19 years of age. While other markets will be having an aging population, Africa is geared to be vibrant, energetic, creative, tech-savvy, ‘charged’, physically and digitally fit to take on the world!
Depending on one’s perspective, this situation might be viewed as a ticking time bomb, with the potential for increased crime due to unemployment. Alternatively, it could be seen in a positive light, where Africa’s greatest assets — the youth — shall be ready to take on the world by channeling their vibrant energy into positive endeavors.
Building on this perspective, I believe that with adequate preparation, our youth can rise to the challenge and spearhead the much-needed agricultural revolution. Agriculture represents one of the most viable business opportunities for young people. However, a significant portion of this generation views it as a traditional industry. Some even argue that agriculture is primarily for the older population and that they will only consider it upon retirement, a sentiment that is regrettable. Considering the continent’s growing population and high unemployment rates, venturing and investing in agri-business appears to be the most sensible option.
For starters, we have an ideal climate for year-round farming and vast tracts of fertile land. Furthermore, the expanding population means there will be an increasing need for food. Therefore, although I am not an economist or a politician, I think we need to engage our youth in discussions about how this sector is underserved by our nation’s most capable individuals — them!
As the world enters the eco-digital era™, African policymakers, governments, investors, activists, researchers, and both the private and public sectors must collaborate to make agribusiness an attractive and viable career path for the youth.
At Shop Nanjala, we recognize this opportunity. We partner with Kenyan smallholder farmers and nurseries to supply ornamental, exotic plants, native trees and organically grown fruit trees and herbs. These ‘hustler’ operations, largely run by women and youth across the country, enable our eCommerce shop to bring their predominantly agricultural products to the urban market in a more professional and profitable manner. As a result, our platform attracts customers nationwide, including in upcountry regions like Eldoret, Migori, and Kajiado, as well as in larger cities such as Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu. This is just one example of how we drive access to markets and provide gainful employment for the youth in the agribusiness sector.
At the Nairobi Innovation Week held in 2022 by the University of Nairobi, I witnessed remarkable innovations: a biochemist student making wine from locally sourced loquat and cacti fruit, with a market already established in Europe; the same student, clearly a geekish serial entrepreneur, exploring sea moss medicinal drinks claimed to aid digestion and accelerate the healing of hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and arthritis; a distinguished professor creating botanical dyes from mycelium and other plant-based products; and a group of inventive students developing a tech-apiary that alerts farmers via mobile phone when it’s time to collect honey. Imagine commercializing such initiatives at scale — goosebumps! These examples are just from Kenya; now, imagine the smart agribusiness innovations in other African markets!
As the founder of a tech-driven business with the potential for exponential growth, our aim is to significantly expand our capacity to onboard and market a wide range of innovative agri-based products and services pioneered by youth. Additionally, we are committed to enhancing our logistics to ensure quick and efficient delivery to our customers.
The true magic lies in commercializing viable and merchantable agribusiness innovations, and we are dedicated to collaborating with such initiatives to bring them into the spotlight.
Otherwise, how will we feed a ballooning population and where will our youth find a source of income?
I strongly believe these two challenges can be addressed by one solution: encouraging the youth to explore the agribusiness sector and find their place within it. The beauty of this industry lies in its extensive value chain. Individuals can position themselves at the very beginning as seed farmers or at the end by supplying processed products ready for retail and consumption. They can even look into the future and explore new climate tech inventions relevant for our unique market!
It is imperative for all of us to view agribusiness through a fresh lens, recognizing it as a diamond in the rough with immense opportunities. These opportunities span from local production for subsistence to larger-scale production for export. Indeed, the potential of Africa’s youth to drive sustainable development and transformative change in this sector is boundless — over to you “ma youth!”
References
@KenyaInnovWeek. (2022, April 26). “Dahari is a health drink that aids in digestion, hastens the healing process…” Kenya Innovation Week. X. https://x.com/kenyainnovweek/status/1518926711831867394?s=46&t=Q0W9AvVR2L1gfzysYfjzww
Capegemini. (2023). The eco-digital era™: The digital transition to sustainable and digital economy (Report). Retrieved from https://prod.ucwe.capgemini.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/CRI_The-Eco-Digital-Era_V5.pdf
Mpemba C., Munyati, C. (2023, August 16). How Africa’s youth will drive global growth. World Economic Forum. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/08/africa-youth-global-growth-digital-economy/
Muhinda, J. J., Kigongo, S. (2024, May 6). Harnessing the power of youth in agribusiness (Article). Kilimo Kwanza: African Agriculture and Food Systems. Retrieved from. https://kilimokwanza.org/we-need-to-unlock-the-potential-of-african-youth-in-agri-food-sector/
Walsh, D., Morales, H. R. (2023, November 13). The world is becoming more African. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/10/28/world/africa/africa-youth-population.html