The Young shall ‘Grow’
The Next Gen Farmer 👨🏾🌾👨🏾💻
At Farmz2U, we refer to farmers as ‘growers’ so yes, all puns intended.
The world population is rapidly increasing and is projected to reach 9.7 billion by the year 2050. The demand for food is also increasing as well as the average age of farmers in many countries as the people involved in farming are getting older. With more mouths to feed and hands to work, there is a need for more hands and minds to be on deck. Every area of life is undergoing an evolution of some sort with new levels of information and technology, the taking over of robots (A.I.), blockchain, the metaverse, etc. by involving the mind of the younger generation, inviting the participation of fresh perspectives and innovative solutions.
The younger generation, or “Gen Z”, are valuable prospects to the agricultural sector if only they were shown that it’s not an area for only old people (no offense to Baby boomers and Millenials). Though they may be regarded as looking for the easy way out of some areas, maybe this is the best place to apply that trait.
Most of the most creative inventions were brought about from looking for the easy way out anyways, so why stop now?
With agriculture becoming increasingly technology driven and the trend pushing youths forward as a tech-savvy bunch, recruiting them on agricultural technology teams can help in developing new technologies that can advance the agricultural sector. There are many opportunities to incorporate technology into agriculture to make it more efficient and productive whether by crop monitoring via drones or precision farming. Having a fresh pair of eyes should never be underrated.
In Africa, where agriculture is the backbone of many economies, there is a growing movement of young people who are embracing farming and agribusiness. Many young entrepreneurs are starting innovative agricultural ventures, such as urban farming and e-commerce platforms for selling agricultural products. For those interested in the entrepreneurship end of life, getting involved in the food system as entrepreneurs and advocates for local and regional food systems is an amazing opportunity to explore. Starting with small-scale farms and businesses that prioritize sustainable practices and create jobs in communities, advocating for policies that support local food systems, such as farm-to-school programs and farmers’ markets are areas to probe around.
As a generation that moves for passion and impact in their community, this is an unexplored area with respect to community involvement. Creating community gardens, urban farming projects to unite the community and building farmer markets are just a few opportunities for Gen Z’s to stir both themselves and their communities on the path to agricultural enlightenment.
The “fit-fam” are not left out as a boom in agriculture means healthier eating and lifestyle choices. Knowing about the soil and the nutrients during the planting and growing process allows for direct involvement while learning about healthy food choices thus promoting healthy living. One of the key areas where Gen Zs are making an impact is in sustainable agriculture. They are pushing for the use of organic and regenerative farming methods, which prioritize the health of the soil, biodiversity, and the environment as a whole. This approach not only helps to reduce the negative impact of agriculture on the planet but also ensures that future generations will have access to healthy and nutritious food.
As most young people were not initially involved in the olden ways of farming, it is important that they are involved in traditional agriculture knowledge and provided with the education and resources they need to embark in this sector. Knowing what was available on ground prior shines more light on what areas should be improved on. The more experienced farmers in the area can serve as mentors to young people on the manual methods of farming and agriculture. This is a method employed in most sectors as it can be seen as investing in the next generation of agricultural leaders. Highlighting and understanding the key benefits for both the older ones and the younger ones can aid them both optimize the learning process.
Governments, NGOs, and private sector organizations can work together to create an enabling environment for young people to participate in agriculture and agribusiness via the mentorship mentioned above or through training sessions, knowledge banks, providing capital and creating more access to land for farming.
At Farmz2u, we assist these young farmers by not only providing the required capital to start farming, but also sharing knowledge in optimal farm production. This is done while connecting them to a network of other farmers and a selling point for crops harvested. With members of Farmz2u’s team crossing different generations, while predomniantly GenZs, we can testify to the diversity of our views in fulfilling our vision of scaling sustainable agriculture in Africa.
