By Bisola Adeyemo
A survey conducted by Heifer International in Rwanda has revealed that 18% of youths use agriculture technology Innovation.
In Rwanda, the survey was conducted on 3,362 respondents interviewed 29,954 youths, 299 smallholder farmers, and 110 agri-focused organizations in eleven countries namely Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, New Times reports.
The survey also discovered that that only 23 percent of youths engaged in agriculture, use any form of agricultural technology such as Apps, SMS, website, software among others in surveyed countries.
However, on a large scale, the findings showed that despite the potential of technology to change Africa’s agriculture sector, the continent’s smallholder farmers continue to face challenges in incorporating technology in their agricultural practices.
“Overall, technology adoption in Africa is quite low. Ghana, Senegal, and Zambia have the lowest Agri-Tech adoption rate, while Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Nigeria have the highest adoption rates,” says the report.
The report shows that 70 per cent of youth have no access to land in Rwanda.
“Most youth in Africa do not have access to land for agriculture. Fifty-nine per cent of youth surveyed do not have access to or own land. Land ownership amongst young people is lowest in Ghana, Zambia, Senegal and Rwanda. Youths in Malawi seem to have access to land with only 14% having no access, the lowest among countries surveyed.”
Youth in Senegal, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana prioritized the need for support in Agric-Tech while access to land was an acute need in Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Zambia.
“The role of youth participation as well as the adaptation of smart, African centered Agri-Tech is a key determinant to supporting the agriculture sector. Encouraging innovation by supporting programs geared towards accelerating agric-tech startups, youth-owned agriculture businesses, and other business stakeholders along the agriculture value chain will catalyze economic development in Africa,” recommends the report.
Dr. Octave Semwaga, the Director General for Agriculture Modernization in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources reiterated that youth are needed on board to boost agricultural productivity adding, ” If not we could reach where we have no farmers.
“Agriculture is the backbone of the economy, when it grows other sectors also grow,” he said explaining why youth should be engaged.
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