Agriculture

YEASA and FAYODE: Collaborating for Youth Development

adminfayode — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 15:54:29 +0000

YEASA and FAYODE: Collaborating for Youth Development adminfayode Sat, 08/13/2022 - 16:54

The Youth Enterprise in Agribusiness and Sustainable Agriculture (YEASA) project cuts across different aspects of the Agricultural value chain with training in areas such as Crop production and value addition, and fish production and value addition. The project which is targeted majorly at youth, focused on crops such as maize, soybeans/beans, plantain, and rice.

FAYODE collaborated with YEASA on this project in the areas of identification, selection and screening of some potential trainees who later on participated in the hybrid program – both online and physical hands-on training. Upon the completion of the online trainings, successful trainees who excelled later participated in the physical hands-on training coordinated by other collaborating institutions in the selected categories. Thereafter, the trainees submitted a bankable [Agri]business proposal. This formed the basis for evaluation to identify those with prospects of business success. Successful trainees were awarded grants of both cash and equipment. FAYODE and YEASA teams are diligently following up on the beneficiaries to ensure judicious use of their grants and to provide other needed support should the need arise.

Further consultations are currently ongoing for the extension/expansion of the project.

TESTIMONIALS:

“I will like to appreciate FAYODE/YEASA for the opportunity to be a part of the Africa Rice Value Addition training program. It's a rare privilege to be a part of the training and be exposed to the diverse business opportunities in rice flour with various value additions. Before the training, I only knew about the traditional ways of cooking and eating rice. Never did I know that I could do much more with rice like making rice milk, coconut biscuit, cake, shortbread, etc. I learned various ways of generating income using rice flour and I will be taking advantage of the same”. Shoga Rebecca

“ This YEASA training has been a huge success on my part, it has also been an eye opener for me on some neglected areas of fish farming that have been silent yet it can be a source of revenue if it's followed hard. This program has given me the privilege of acquiring a new skill to explore in order to gain financial freedom and most importantly an additional stream of income. I also want to use this medium to say a big thanks to FAYODE, to have graced me with this opportunity of a lifetime. I have acquired a lot” Irinyemi Foluso

FAYODE and YEASA training participants

Capacity Development

IFAD - Shaping a holistic response to COVID-19: Protecting food systems and rural producers

adminfayode — Wed, 06 May 2020 10:01:48 +0000

IFAD - Shaping a holistic response to COVID-19: Protecting food systems and rural producers adminfayode Wed, 05/06/2020 - 11:01

By SARA SAVASTANO/IFAD.org

It is easy to lose sight of the big picture when called upon to act quickly in response to the human tragedy caused by COVID-19. Even as the crisis unfolds before our eyes, governments, regional and international organizations, and civil society have leapt into action to ameliorate immediate suffering and prevent the worst effects – and, slowly, to prepare to deal with the long-term consequences.

When? Where? Who?

Pandemics create both demand and supply shocks in all economic sectors, to varying degrees and at different rates. Although the agricultural sector tends to be more resilient than other sectors, to the extent that the pandemic disrupts regional and international trade, the food system in developing countries can still take a significant hit. And for countries that rely on food imports, a food systems crisis may hit earlier than the effects of the pandemic itself.

In the short run, demand can decrease significantly due to loss of income and overall economic slowdown. This is particularly critical for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the midstream and downstream parts of the agrifood sector (i.e. processing, transportation and distribution), as well as for SMEs outside the agrifood sector. Most households in these sectors, particularly those of informal day labourers, have little or no safety net to weather the storm – hence, a loss of income has implications for their food security and nutrition.

The short-term effects on the supply side are likely to be smaller for the food sector, as upstream agricultural production in developing countries relies mainly on family labour, which is relatively unaffected by measures such as lockdowns. However, if market linkages are broken due to pandemic response measures, the supply of food could decrease in the mid- and upstream. If connectivity is not restored in the medium- to long term, production and supply could decrease over time as well.

The effects of the pandemic are also likely to be different along the rural-urban continuum. More urbanized areas may be harder hit than remote rural areas if connectivity remains broken down, as most food is produced in rural and semi-rural areas.

Lastly, the effects of the pandemic are certain to affect some segments of IFAD target groups more severely than others. Overall, women, youth and persons with disabilities are likely to feel the effects much more strongly, given that these groups are already disadvantaged in accessing economic and financial resources.

Given all of these various links and interrelated effects, it is essential that all interventions must be holistic in design.

How?

IFAD’s impact analyses have shown that value chain development is the most effective intervention type for achieving our strategic objectives across continents, and that a set of interlinked project components is the best way to achieve impact.

One possible approach would combine agricultural and social protection support to address short-term needs as well as speed up medium- to long-term recovery. Central to this approach would be agrifood systems. With their ability to connect rural and urban areas and to create employment all along the value chain, they are invaluable to any recovery effort.

This approach would focus on linking supply and demand in agrifood systems through digital connection and mobile financial services, and would involve three simple and interlinked components:

Identification: The first component, creation of a digital roster of investment needs, would involve a rapid vulnerability assessment via phone survey to identify the particular adverse consequences of COVID-19 faced by each target group.
Support: A series of carefully targeted mobile transfers and other financial instruments would then address constraints on food supply, market access or other system components. It could also involve a production support component, using a digital system including a voucher to connect the downstream beneficiaries with the mid- and upstream actors. Mobile transfers could also help ensure the continuance of remittances using existing IFAD facilities, perhaps with IFAD brokering partnerships with the private sector and acting as guarantor.
Connection: Finally, as the focus turns to longer-term solutions, emphasis would be placed on ensuring rural market connectivity. This would begin with ensuring the provision of a reliable internet connection at informal markets, a crucial measure for maintaining linkages along the agrifood value chain and thus for improving the sustainability of the impacts of the other interventions.

The approach described above is still theoretical, drawing from IFAD’s previous successful interventions as well as the latest relevant literature. Meanwhile, IFAD has already taken concrete actions along these lines to assist beneficiary countries.

To date, IFAD has identified specific measures to adapt and build rural people’s resilience to COVID-19 in 73 of our projects, operating across 60 countries. This number is increasing daily as IFAD country teams, together with partners, continue to develop concrete plans to support the COVID-19 response and to avoid setbacks to developmental progress already achieved. A broader strategy along the lines described above is also under development, which will address immediate needs as well as ensure long-term resilience in beneficiary countries.

With the upcoming 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, donors and the international development community are already engaged to transform food systems to be inclusive, sustainable, efficient, healthy and in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. The COVID-19 crisis has underlined that connectivity is crucial to making it happen.

Learn more about how IFAD promotes inclusive finance and helps rural producers access markets.

Food

With few resources, you can transform rural communities

omotomiwa — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 14:20:50 +0000

With few resources, you can transform rural communities omotomiwa Wed, 11/28/2018 - 15:20

“Our aim is to provide opportunities for rural youth to engage in their own enterprises”

Opening the door to youth employment is a priority for Kanayo F. Nwanze, the FAO Special Goodwill Ambassador for Zero Hunger for the Africa Region. Nwanze trained as an agricultural research scientist and served as President of FAO’s sister UN agency, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, from 2009 to 2017.

In 2016, Nwanze won the Africa Food Prize for his contributions to agriculture, sustainable food security and economic opportunity. He used the money he received to start the Facility for Youth Development (FAYODE) in his native Nigeria.

“With a little bit of money, with a few resources, you can transform rural communities.”

The idea is to provide small grants and business training and build a model for success that can be replicated in rural communities elsewhere.

“FAYODE does not intend to transform millions of young populations but to target a handful of energetic, ambitious young women and men in rural areas so that they can demonstrate that they do not need to migrate to urban areas or to try to find their way to Europe.”

Nwanze says capacity-building should be a key component of any youth employment initiative.

“Whatever you are doing that is an attempt to generate wealth, to make money, is a business, so you have to have a business mentality. It can be a cassava-planting machine, it can be a machine to grind and sort rice, it can be a young woman who wants to start a hairdressing salon in the village.”

A key part of Nwanze’s role as an FAO Zero-Hunger ambassador is advocacy, giving speeches otherwise taking part in events like the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa (January), and the 30^th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa in Khartoum (February).

“We have to have government and policy-makers voice their support for Zero Hunger but also demonstrate it with the right policies, with the right opportunities, creating the right environment, to support rural populations.”

Culled from FAO

Walking the Talk: First Winner of the Africa Food Prize Using Award Money to Support Rural Youth

omotomiwa — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 17:28:42 +0000

Walking the Talk: First Winner of the Africa Food Prize Using Award Money to Support Rural Youth omotomiwa Wed, 08/15/2018 - 18:28

Africa Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) 2018

adminfayode — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 12:23:54 +0000

Africa Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) 2018 adminfayode Tue, 04/24/2018 - 13:23

The African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) is a platform for global and African leaders to develop actionable plans that will move African agriculture forward. Established in 2010, the Forum has emerged as Africa’s premier platform that brings together a range of critical stakeholders in the African agriculture landscape to discuss and develop concrete plans for achieving the green revolution in Africa.

Website: https://www.agrf.org/

Kigali, Rwanda

10:00 AM / 1 September, 2018

Agriculture, Nutrition and Health Academy Week

adminfayode — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 12:15:41 +0000

Agriculture, Nutrition and Health Academy Week adminfayode Tue, 04/24/2018 - 13:15

The Agriculture, Nutrition & Health (ANH) Academy is a global research network in agriculture and food systems for improved nutrition and health to serve as a platform for learning and sharing. We invite the global community of researchers and research users to participate in this event.

The ANH Academy Week programme will feature Learning Labs (training workshops) offered by ANH Academy partners, a Scientific Conference with invited papers, poster and panel sessions, and many opportunities for networking with other researchers and research-users. The call for abstracts for presentations at the Scientific Conference is open until February 2018.

Website: http://anh-academy.org/anh2018-save-date

Accra, Ghana

10:00 AM / 25 June, 2018

Unleash the power of young Africans: Supporting the farmers of tomorrow

adminfayode — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 16:33:35 +0000

Unleash the power of young Africans: Supporting the farmers of tomorrow adminfayode Mon, 03/26/2018 - 17:33

This post was first published on Compact2025.org

The number of young people between ages 15 and 24 is growing rapidly. The youth bulge is particularly pronounced in Africa and south Asia, where the youth population is expected to double in the next 30 years. As of 2012, 10 million young people in sub-Saharan Africa were entering the job market every year.

As the world population continues to grow, food production will need to increase by 60% to meet rising demand. Yet considering that the current global average age of farmers is over 60, the question is: who will feed the world in the future? Hunger and undernutrition also persist, and thus the need to accelerate progress – the central goal of Compact2025, for which I serve as a Leadership Council member – is ever more critical.

There is great potential for a demographic dividend, as the young generation can serve as a powerful resource for economic development and social progress, especially in Africa. Young people hold tremendous energy and creativity to not only contribute to agriculture, but also in addressing the major challenges facing humanity – hunger, poverty, and climate change. International institutions are highlighting the issue, bringing youth to the forefront of efforts toward sustainable development.

In my latest book, ‘A Bucket of Water,’ I discuss the critical role youth will play in Africa’s future. There are great opportunities for entrepreneurship along the whole agri-food value chain to meet future needs in food security and nutrition. There will be need for workers in production, storage, conservation, processing, packaging, marketing, technology innovation, and transport among many others.

Yet young people face particular barriers that often lead to skepticism about farming as a viable future. Youth and other marginalized groups do not see farming as a business, as an economic enterprise. They also lack access to financial resources or collateral that are necessary to start a business. Many also lack access to modern communication technologies that would enable the exchange of important information. Without adequate education or opportunities in rural areas, many young men and women decide to leave to urban areas or foreign countries.

How can we, the current generation, help remove the barriers youth face and help them reach their —and thereby our world’s—full potential?

The key will be to develop rural areas to encourage young men and women to remain in their communities and pursue opportunities to improve their livelihoods and obtain decent work for greater prosperity. It is essential that the rural space is provided with basic infrastructure and social services, namely roads, electricity, running water, schools, health services, and more. Building vibrant rural economies can also contribute to addressing poverty and inequality associated with rapid urbanization and relieving pressure from cities with limited capacity for migration.

In order to support youth to prosper in rural areas, we need to work on a few key aspects. First, addressing the education deficit for young people, particularly those in rural areas, is necessary to better prepare youth for future labor market demands. Vocational training and apprenticeships are needed for youth to build relevant knowledge and skills for work or create jobs for themselves. The International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) with support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), for example, has helped identify and train young farmers by facilitating mentorships with agricultural entrepreneurs, or agripreneurs.

Secondly, supporting access to credit and financial services for youth farmers will address a major obstacle for young farmers. Banks often do not provide credit to potential farmers due to young age and perception of farming as non-viable businesses, or the lack of collateral held by the farmer. Providing financial services as well as financial literacy training can be important tools for youth farming and businesses.

In addition, access to information is crucial for farmers in the globalized era. Farmers will need better information about markets, weather, as well as opportunities to enhance their business. Platforms to disseminate information are also key for farmers to reach out to potential customers. Global Youth Innovation Network in Senegal utilizes information communication technologies (ICTs) to support rural women working in agriculture.

By supporting youth in these areas, farming can become an appealing future for young people, and developing county agriculture can become a viable business. It is vital to create an environment for future food producers to thrive and accelerate progress toward ending hunger and undernutrition.

It is with this vision that I established the Facility for Youth Development (FAYODE) Foundation to support the development of young Africans, particularly rural youth, through mentoring, capacity building, and investment in entrepreneurial skills in a wide range of productive activities.

There is a saying in Nigeria that when you go to the stream to fetch water, your bucket will be filled with water that is yours. No one can take the water that is meant for you, but first you must walk to the stream. However, walking to the stream is not always easy. African youth will need to fill their own buckets, but it is our imperative to remove the barriers that hold back the future farmers of our world.

Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze is the Fifth President (Rtd) of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Special Goodwill Ambassador on Zero Hunger, Africa Region, and CGIAR System Management Board’s First Global Ambassador. He is a Leadership Council member for Compact2025.

Photo: C. Schubert (CCAFS)

Agriculture

Agriculture

YEASA and FAYODE: Collaborating for Youth Development

IFAD - Shaping a holistic response to COVID-19: Protecting food systems and rural producers

With few resources, you can transform rural communities

Walking the Talk: First Winner of the Africa Food Prize Using Award Money to Support Rural Youth

Africa Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) 2018

Agriculture, Nutrition and Health Academy Week

Unleash the power of young Africans: Supporting the farmers of tomorrow

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