Proceedings discussion No

Aklilu Nigussie, Ethiopian Institutes of Agricultural Research, Ethiopia

I am engaged in research and development yet I was grown in cultivating my families land in rural side of the country in Ethiopia. I was always in search of technologies that can enhance the productivity of my families land as we were depend our livelihood on it; from food to income generation for sustainability.

Yet; the access of technological packages the fit to our existence of agro-ecological zone was almost negligent (closer to zero) because of different factors like distance to the main rural towns and others.

What motivated me to engage on agriculture was; because of the reason that I encountered while I was a farmer in my family’s plot of land.

My achievement engaging in the research and development me and colleagues has tried our bests to involve in the scaling up of different technologies to the pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in Afar and Oromia (Metehara district) like chicken birds and bread wheat in small scale irrigated areas. We were successful as it was a new intervention to the area few years ago.

Find the attachment below

Aklilu TRB-08-2014.pdf

Thembani Malapela, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Italy

Dear All,

Thank you to colleagues that have already contributed, we commend you also for addressing and focusing on the objectives and themes highlighted.

Kindly keep the ball on, and share also this with relevant networks in the region

Regards,

Thembani Malapela

Facilitator

Mamadou Djemory Diabate, MENETFP, Côte d'Ivoire

Original comment in French

1. Mon expérience en tant que jeune dans lesecteur agricole.

Merci de nous associer aux discussions sur ces thèmes importants. En tant que Educateur dans un collège dans mon pays, j'ai mis en place une coopérative scolaire avec mes élèves. Nous pratiquons l'agriculture en cultivant l'hevea et le manioc.

2. Principal réalisations et réussites.

Nous avons cultivé 5 hectares de pépinières d'hevea, nous allons vendre 3 hectares et garder les 2 hectares restants. Nous avons également récolté 10tonnes de manioc que nous avons vendu.

3. Questions à poser aux experts.

Je demanderais aux experts denous donner des solutions afin de mobiliser des fonds pour élaborer des projets agricoles en faveur des jeunes ?

English translation

1. My experience as a young farmer.

Thank you for involving us in the discussions on these important topics. As a teacher in a middle school in my country, I set up a school cooperative with my students. We practice agriculture by growing hevea and cassava.

2. Main achievements and successes.

We have cultivated 5 hectares of hevea nurseries, we will sell 3 hectares and keep the remaining 2 hectares. We also harvested 10 tons of cassava which we sold.

3. Questions for experts.

I would ask the experts to give us solutions in order to mobilize funds to develop agricultural projects in favour of young people?

Tang Erasmus Nchuaji, The University of Yaounde I/ Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD, Cameroon), Cameroon

Dear all,

Greetings and kudos to the facilitators and all contributors.

1. Experience as a Youth in the Agriculture Sector:

I have been engaged in maize and rice cultivation and in extending good agricultural practices in farm school sessions for farmer associations in North West (Ndop plain), West (Foumbot area), and Center (Tonga and Nanga Eboko) regions of the Republic of Cameroon. I have from 2013 been engaged in agribusiness for these two crops and market gardening (tomato cultivation). With the IRAD team, we carried out a series of nutrient omission trials and the introduction of mechanical weeders in rice fields. These activities were coordinated by Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice, Cote D'Ivoire) and were simultaneously carried out in her member state countries among which Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Cote D'Ivoire etc. I studied rice processing (upgrading domestic rice quality) in college and is involved in the training of farmers on the conversion of rice residues to valuable products like briquettes through densification of husks, biscuits production using broken grains, and to mushroom production through sterilization and fermentation of appropriated proportions of husk and bran. My interest in Agriculture stems from childhood, where as a kid I followed the family to our maize, beans, potato and plantain farms which were grown for subsistence. With the objective of helping the family after graduating from college, I had agriculture as the first option. I am filled with passion to get enriched and enrich others with the potential of agriculture to transform lives in rural communities.

2. Major Achievements and Success Stories:

I defended my M.Sc. thesis in 2013 on used of optimum parboiling conditions to produce quality milled rice and have contributed to the training of  over 2000 women and youths on agricultural techniques in the North West, West, and Center regions of Cameroon. Rice and maize yields in farmer fields have increased since the introduction of GAP. Currently partnering with youths in tomato cultivation, where the turn over is really high and fast and the youths though not educated are satisfied.

3. What the Rwanda Youth Conference Should Address:

From my experience and contact with youths interested in agriculture, the Rwanda Youth Conference should consider:

1. 
   Educating youths in rural areas on applied agricultural techniques specific to their region.  Most youths (the workforce) in rural areas have not been to school and have agriculture as the major source of livelihood. They have little income (or none) to venture in agriculture. So for those who try and fail, they are discouraged. Educating them about innovative techniques through practice will contribute to the success and draw more youths.
   
2. 
   Policy: There is a need to protect youths in agriculture at all levels in the supply chain. Imported products in our domestic markets (the case of rice and wheat products) are dominating local products enormously. The conference committed should table proposals in this regards to policymakers in Africa (AU and other institutions).
   
3. 
   Loans and follow-up: Drawing banks and financial institutions closer to youths and vice versa.