Youth and Agriculture in West Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s fastest growing population and also the youngest. This is a huge opportunity for West Africa as young people bring energy, vivacity, and innovation into the work force and can consequently have a transformative impact on economic growth and social development. The agricultural sector plays a key role in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and represents up to 35% of the region’s Gross Domestic Product.  It is currently the employer of most of West Africans with 60% of the active population engaged in this sector.

Although agriculture offers an opportunity to move out of poverty and build satisfying lives for young people, youth are not attracted by agriculture. The dynamism of the agricultural sector being a vital factor in efforts to combat poverty and food insecurity, we would like to further the possible options to make jobs in agriculture more appealing for the new generations.
FAO and the Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition invite you to take part in the online survey on Youth and Agriculture in West Africa.

You can also answer the question "How could agriculture become more attractive for young people?" by SMS to 00 233 26 81 81 81 2.

Link to the survey: http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/west-africa/

Deadline: 31 January 2014

Article originally published on this link: Youth and Agriculture in West Africa