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The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is spearheading transformative investment in rural women and youth entrepreneurship in agrifood systems.
Addressing participants during a side event of the ongoing Africa Food Systems Forum that kicked off today 2 September 2024 and will run until 6 September 2024 in Kigali, Rwanda held under the theme “Gender Responsive Approaches Driving Food Transformation”, Nana Amoah, AGRA’s Director of Gender, Youth, and Inclusiveness, said the institution’s various teams and strategic focus areas have engaged with rural women and youth with a focus on financial inclusion, technology adoption, and strengthening cooperative structures.
Below, are the AGRA initiatives to ensure the effective participation of youth and women in agrifood systems:
Empowering Women through Financial Inclusion and Agricultural Inputs:
AGRA, through its PIATA initiative, supported the Nasara Women Cooperative in the Kaduna State of Nigeria comprising 1,000 women farmers, by facilitating access to input loans. The loans included fertilizers, agrochemicals, and training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for maize production. This initiative significantly increased their yield from 1.2 MT to 3.5 MT per hectare, with a loan repayment rate of 98.5%.
Such financial inclusion and support have enabled these women to thrive in agricultural activities, demonstrating the power of targeted interventions in improving agricultural productivity and sustainability among rural women.
Introduction of Technology to Reduce Post-Harvest Losses:
AGRA introduced advanced threshing technology to rural women in Kaduna and Niger States, which drastically reduced post-harvest losses and increased their income. Before this intervention, women used manual threshing methods that were inefficient and led to significant losses.
The introduction of multifunctional threshers, combined with training, enabled these women to process their maize and rice more efficiently, leading to increased market value for their produce. For instance, two women from this initiative saw their incomes rise to $597.916 and $327.083 within a year, underscoring the impact of technology on improving livelihoods.
Enhancing Agri-entrepreneurship development for rural youth:
In the Tharaka Nithi area in Kenya, AGRA has invested in sustaining youth-led entrepreneurial ventures to train farmers to sell seeds and inputs to improve their livelihoods in rural areas. The efforts to establish incubators that focus on agri-businesses led by women and youth, and provide mentorship, training, and access to capital for the communities is an example of the range of support AGRA invests. AGRA’s focus is to expand the sector and create more work opportunities for young men and women in rural and urban areas alike.
Amoah added that AGRA has empowered women and youth groups in rural areas to enhance their agricultural productivity, increase their incomes, and achieve greater economic independence. These initiatives not only improve livelihoods but also contribute to broader food security and economic growth in rural areas.
AGRA has also played a key role in integrating gender and youth into significant policy frameworks at both the national and regional levels. For instance, AGRA has supported the domestication of the African Agribusiness Youth Strategy (AAYS) into national plans, which has been crucial in strengthening systems and markets for rural youth in agribusiness.
By aligning these strategies with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), AGRA has ensured that youth and women are at the center of agricultural transformation efforts.
AGRA is also working in pursuit of ensuring access to effective strategies for coping with food system shocks for women and youth.
Below are some of the strategies toward this goal:
Strengthening Resilience through Diversification:
AGRA emphasizes the importance of diversifying income streams for women and youth engaged in agriculture. By promoting value addition, agro-processing, and off-farm activities, AGRA helps these groups build resilience against shocks such as climate change, market fluctuations, and supply chain disruptions. Diversification reduces dependency on a single source of income and enables women and youth to better withstand economic and environmental stresses.
Access to Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA):
AGRA has been at the forefront of promoting climate-smart agricultural practices, which are crucial in helping women and youth adapt to the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related shocks. Through training programs, access to climate-resilient seeds, and the integration of CSA into national policies, AGRA ensures that these groups are better prepared to cope with changing climatic conditions. For example, the introduction of drought-resistant crops and sustainable water management practices has significantly reduced the vulnerability of smallholder farmers.
Empowering Women and Youth through Financial Inclusion:
Financial access is a key component of resilience. AGRA works to increase access to credit, savings, and insurance products tailored to the needs of women and youth. By partnering with financial institutions and leveraging digital finance solutions, AGRA helps these groups build financial buffers that can be crucial during times of crisis. This includes access to microinsurance products that protect against crop failure and other shocks.
Strengthening Social Safety Nets and Community Support Systems:
AGRA recognizes the importance of social safety nets in cushioning the impact of shocks. By working with governments and community organizations, AGRA advocates for and supports the development of safety net programs that specifically target women and youth in rural areas. These programs provide crucial support during periods of food insecurity, ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to essential resources.
Building Capacity for Innovation and Adaptive Practices:
AGRA invests in building the capacity of women and youth to innovate and adapt to new challenges. This includes training in modern agricultural techniques, digital tools, and business management, which equips them with the skills needed to quickly adjust their practices in response to shocks. AGRA’s initiatives like the GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize showcase how young innovators can lead the way in creating solutions that enhance resilience in food systems.
Promoting Policy Advocacy and Systemic Change:
At a systemic level, AGRA works to influence policies that support the resilience of women and youth in agriculture. By advocating for the inclusion of gender-responsive and youth-focused measures in national and regional agricultural policies, AGRA ensures that these groups are prioritized in disaster response and recovery efforts. For instance, AGRA’s work with the African Union and regional economic communities has led to stronger policy frameworks that support food security and resilience for women and youth.
Leveraging Technology for Early Warning and Decision Support:
AGRA supports the use of technology to provide early warning systems and decision support tools that help women and youth anticipate and respond to food system shocks. These tools include mobile apps that deliver real-time weather forecasts, market information, and agricultural advice, enabling farmers to make informed decisions that mitigate the impact of potential shocks.
In conclusion, Amoah added that there is hope in the proven resilience and adaptability of women and youth when equipped with the right tools, resources, and support.
“AGRA’s experience shows that when these groups are empowered through access to knowledge, finance, and supportive policies, they not only survive shocks but thrive in the face of adversity. The growing momentum behind inclusive agricultural transformation, supported by organizations like AGRA, means that more women and youth will have the opportunity to build resilient livelihoods and contribute to the sustainable development of Africa’s food systems.
“The key is continued investment in targeted, impactful initiatives that address the specific needs and challenges faced by women and youth. By maintaining a focus on innovation, inclusivity, and partnership, AGRA remains committed to ensuring that these groups can navigate and overcome the shocks that threaten food security and livelihoods across the continent. The future is promising, and there is indeed hope for a more resilient and equitable agrifood system in Africa,” she added.