Shop on Impakter Eco
  • Women
  • Men
  • Kids
  • Beautycare
  • Home & Living
  • Food & Drinks
  • Pets
Impakter
Shop on Eco Shop
  • Shop Eco
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
    • Entertainment
    • Literature
    • Music
    • Photography
  • Style
    • Architecture
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Foodscape
    • Lifestyle
  • Society
    • Business
    • Environment
    • Foreign Affairs & Politics
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Science
    • Start-up
  • Impact
    • Eco Life
    • Circular Economy
    • COP26
    • CityLife
      • Copenhagen
      • San Francisco
      • Seattle
      • Sydney
    • Sustainability Series
      • SDGs Series
      • Shape Your Future
      • 2030: Dream or Reality
    • Philanthropy
      • United Nations
      • NGO & Charities
      • Essays
    • Your Voice
      • Empower Earth
      • Empower Equality
  • SUSTAINABILITY INDEX
  • Startup-Hub
    • Companies
    • Investors
    • Organisations
    • Jobs
    • Events
  • Partners
  • About
    • Team
    • Global Leaders
    • Contributors
    • Write for Impakter
    • IMPAKTER Italy
    • Republishing Content
    • Permissions and Copyright
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Impakter
No Result
View All Result
Home Philanthropy

The secret recipe for scaling climate-smart agriculture: Youth

CGIARbyCGIAR
June 5, 2020
in Philanthropy
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Research trends reveal massive gaps in students primed to become Kenya’s next generation of agricultural professionals and agripreneurs. Degree enrolment in agriculture courses decreased from 24,221 students in 2017 to 18,165 in 2018, a 25% drop, as students reported a lack of motivation and a negative perception of career prospects in the future of agriculture. However, youth—as future decision makers and drivers of agricultural transformation in Kenya—have an opportunity to contribute to the country’s food security.

For this, the Climate Smart Agriculture Youth Network (CSAYN) in collaboration with the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT (the Alliance) and the University of Nairobi (UoN), held the inaugural Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Campus Forum at UoN. This aimed to build the capacity of students taking agriculture courses in CSA and equip them with knowledge to harness the massive opportunities in agribusiness.


Related topics: COVID-19 Finds African Youth Capitalising on Digital Space – The silver bullet to attract youth – Mitigate Massive Youth Migration in Africa

The Forum attracted 464 students from the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences (CAVS), research scientists in CSA, professionals from research and development organizations, young champion farmers implementing CSA and faculty from UoN. The forum was broadcast on television and livestreamed by TV47 to Kenya’s 47 Counties.

Scientists unpack CSA and young farmers share first-hand experiences

Dr. John Recha, a CSA scientist with CCAFS who studied agriculture at UoN 25 years ago, explained the science of climate change and the effects on agriculture. He highlighted why CSA is a suitable approach to address climate change impacts on agriculture.

Dr. Evan Girvetz, Principal Scientist at the Alliance, unpacked practical examples of how youth are being engaged in numerous agribusiness activities. For example, the Alliance has partnered with John Deere, a tractor manufacturer, and Hello Tractor, a digital platform that connects smallholder farmers to mechanization services on a conservation tillage program, where farmers can request a tractor though mobile digital platforms as easily as requesting an Uber.

The opening session was followed by an interactive experience with two young agripreneurs: Ronald Dianga, who runs Kenarava Agribusiness, a company that provides agribusiness consultancy in farm management and farmer training; and Anthony Malovi, who farms on five acres of land in Kitale. They advised students to take a business approach to farming, leverage their academic skills in agriculture and tap into opportunities in climate-smart farming.

Agricultural student participants at the CSA Campus Forum at the University of Nairobi. Photo: B. Wema (Independent Photographer)

Key takeaways from the CSA Campus Forum

  1. Knowledge is power – climate education for youth is vital

Developing tailor-made knowledge and information sharing platforms could be useful in raising awareness and informing youth about CSA, building their capacity, tapping into their growing energy and drive for climate action, and identifying avenues to transition to CSA.

  1. Gaining insight from fellow young people – the efficacy of peer to peer learning

Experience sharing through multi-medium dialogues creates space for positive youth influencers to dispel negative perceptions and stereotypes and facilitate young people to become more engaged in agriculture.

  1. Seeing is believing – practical demonstration is needed

Pictorial articles, videos and CSA demonstration farm visits, will enhance knowledge of locally appropriate and environmentally sound farming approaches and technologies.

  1. Climate-smart innovations – digital farming key to youth involvement in agriculture

The digital agriculture revolution has the potential to birth the twin benefits of scaling out CSA while attracting, engaging and retaining youth in the sector.

  1. Research – the need for evidence to inform programmatic interventions

Gaining insights on youth perceptions and attitudes in agriculture could enable relevant actors in the CSA space to develop scalable methods and tools that effectively engage young people, and base policies on these research outcomes.



Based on the insights and building on the conference momentum, the partners and organizers hope to scale out the CSA Campus Forum. Participatory learning platforms for students will be key in changing any negative perceptions towards agriculture, and increasing knowledge and impact.


About the author: Victor Mugo is Country Coordinator for the Climate Smart Agriculture Youth Network (CSAYN). Ivy Kinyua is Research Assistant at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. Catherine Mungai is Partnerships and Policy Specialist at CCAFS East Africa. John Recha is Participatory Action Research (PAR) Specialist at CCAFS East Africa.


EDITOR’S NOTE: The opinions expressed here by Impakter.com columnists are their own, not those of Impakter.com.  Photo Credit: B. Wema 

Tags: climate smart agricultureEast Africayouth
Previous Post

Elon Musk: ‘Coronavirus Panic Is Dumb’

Next Post

Creating a New Social Contract for a Healthy, Just and Sustainable World

CGIAR

CGIAR

CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) seeks to address the increasing challenge of global warming and declining food security on agricultural practices, policies and measures through strategic, broad-based global partnerships

Related Posts

Girlhood Annihilated: Rates of Child Marriage Are Soaring in Ethiopia
Climate Change

Girlhood Annihilated: Rates of Child Marriage Are Soaring in Ethiopia

May 2, 2022
“Plain Wrong and Racist”: Britain’s New Migration Plans
Equal Rights

“Plain Wrong and Racist”: Britain’s New Migration Plans

April 29, 2022
How Artisanal Fisheries Help Food Security and Rural Income 
SDG Series

How Artisanal Fisheries Help Food Security and Rural Income 

February 7, 2022
Next Post
Creating a New Social Contract for a Healthy, Just and Sustainable World

Creating a New Social Contract for a Healthy, Just and Sustainable World

Recent News

Ukraine War: Mariupol Fighters Face Uncertain Fate Under Kremlin Custody

Ukraine War: Mariupol Fighters Face Uncertain Fate Under Kremlin Custody

May 20, 2022
France’s First Female Prime Minister in 30 years: Elisabeth Borne

France’s First Female Prime Minister in 30 years: Elisabeth Borne

May 20, 2022
Tesla Removed From S&P 500 ESG Index, Musk: “ESG Is a Scam”

Tesla Removed From S&P 500 ESG Index, Musk: “ESG Is a Scam”

May 20, 2022
impakter-logo-light

Impakter informs you through the eco news site and empowers your sustainable lifestyle with its eco products marketplace.

Visit here IMPAKTER ECO for your eco products needs.

Registered Office Address

32 Lots Road, London
SW10 0QJ, United Kingdom


IMPAKTER Limited

Company number: 10806931

Impakter is a publication that is identified by the following International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) is the following 2515-9569 (Printed) and 2515-9577 (online – Website).


Office Hours - Monday to Friday

9.30am - 5.00pm CEST


Email

stories [at] impakter.com

About Us

  • Team
  • Contributors
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Partners

By Audience

  • Lifestyle
  • Green Finance
  • Culture
  • Society
  • Style
  • Impact

Impakter Platforms

  • Media
  • Up
  • Index
  • Eco for Sellers
  • Impakter Pro

© 2022 IMPAKTER. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Culture
  • Style
  • Society
  • Impact
  • ECO Products Shop – Try now!
  • INDEX – Sustainability Index
  • UP – Startup Hub
  • About
    • Partners
    • Team
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
Impakter.com uses cookies to enhance your experience when visiting the website and to serve you with advertisements that might interest you. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.