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| | | Title | Youth Employment Through Agricultural Development: Evidence from Malawi | | Author | Nkhata, Rudolph | | Subject | Youth Employment | | Date of Publication | 2014 | | Publisher | African Community of Practice on Management for Development result at the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) | | Number of Pages | 5 pages | | Language | English | | Geographical Coverage | Malawi | | Keywords | Agricultural Development, Youth Unemployment, Food Security | | Abstract | Africa faces high unemployment rate due to an unprecedented youth bulge, which is not commensurable with job opportunities. In this context, other alternative programs, apart from creating non-farm employment, become necessary. This study uses Bwanje Valley Irrigation Scheme in Malawi as a case study to highlight the importance of agricultural development in reducing unemployment among the youth in rural areas. The findings of the case study revealed that the youth who participated in the irrigation farming were food secure as they had enough food to eat throughout the year and realized also increased incomes. This increased income had multiplier effects such as creation of small or medium enterprises, acquisition of assets including building of houses with iron sheets and buying of livestock, etc. The case study therefore posits that promoting agricultural development programs is likely to absorb unemployed youth in rural areas. Therefore, governments should mainstream policies and strategies that encourage voluntary youth participation in agricultural development programs. | | Copyright Holder | African Community of Practice (AfCoP) | | Copyright URL | http://afrik4r.org/ | | Filesize | 240406 MB | | File Format | PDF | | [ View / download original document ] |
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