Youth in Agriculture: Nigeria’s Key to Food Security and Economic Growth
In this special LightRay! Media report on Agriculture and youth, we dive deep into the economic manpower of the largest African youth population domiciled in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s agricultural sector, the country’s largest, urgently needs reform to effectively address the pressing issues of food insecurity and youth unemployment. This vital sector contributes a significant 24% to Nigeria’s GDP, yet it’s facing numerous challenges, including an aging farming population, limited access to modern farming technologies, and underutilized arable land. To overcome these hurdles, experts recommend a comprehensive overhaul of agricultural education, investing in irrigation systems, storage facilities, and rural roads, as well as establishing accessible credit facilities and crop insurance programs. By implementing these reforms, Nigeria can unlock the sector’s full potential, provide opportunities for its youthful population, and ensure food security for its growing population.
Abuja – Nigeria. By Precious Nwonu
Nigeria’s agricultural sector, which contributes an average of 24% to the nation’s GDP, has been struggling in recent years, leading to food insecurity and unemployment among the youth.
Senator Saliu Mustafa, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, has emphasized the need for reforming agricultural education in schools to combat these issues.
According to Mustafa, compulsory agricultural studies could play a crucial role in equipping younger Nigerians with practical skills in farming, agribusiness, and retail industries, enabling them to create sustainable livelihoods and address economic challenges.
Nigeria’s unemployment rate rose to 5.3% in the first quarter of 2024 from 5.0% in the third quarter of 2023, with females recording a higher unemployment rate of 6.2% compared to males at 4.3%.
The National Bureau of Statistics reports that urban unemployment remained unchanged at 6.0%, while rural unemployment stood at 4.3%. Youth unemployment among those aged 15 to 24 decreased to 8.4% in the first quarter of 2024 from 8.6% in the third quarter of 2023.
However, 14.4% of youths are not in education, employment, or training.
Nigeria’s agricultural sector faces multiple challenges, including an aging farming population with an average age of 55-60 years, limited access to modern farming technologies, and underutilized arable land. Currently, only 40% of the country’s 82 million hectares of arable land is cultivated.
Countries such as Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Rwanda, and Finland have successfully invested in agricultural education, achieving impressive results. Rwanda, for instance, has seen a 77% increase in food production, while Finland’s program has contributed to a 30% reduction in youth unemployment.
To address these challenges, experts recommend updating curricula to include practical skills, entrepreneurship, and technology, investing in irrigation systems, storage facilities, and rural roads, and establishing accessible credit facilities and crop insurance programs.
Additionally, providing capacity-building programs for agricultural educators, fostering partnerships between educational institutions and agricultural businesses, and encouraging students to develop business plans and innovative ideas are essential.
Improving facilities and equipment in agricultural schools, allocating sufficient budget, and exploring international partnerships are also crucial.
Implementing these measures will encourage youths to pursue farming, reducing unemployment and food insecurity in Nigeria.
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