Do you think that this framework addresses the key issues affecting youth engagement and employment in AFS?
Based on the three fundamental pillars for engagement and employment for the youth they have rights of employment for their subsistence. It is almost a universal truth that the youth have rights to work in the field to produce the foods for their families. Therefore it has to be considered as an important pillar in this regard. Accordingly, equity is quite justified having quality of being fair and impartial among the youth. There will be no discrimination between the youths based on dwelling in one region or locality and based on colour and gender too. Accordingly, agency is also a strong pillar for the employment opportunities of the youth. There are growing so many agencies/institutions with the aim of providing employment opportunities especially for the youths. However, the youths can be employed in their own or rented farming with or without the supports from their family members too. At that moment no agencies established in private or public sector will be required for the engagement of the youths.
Regarding the trends as mentioned above that these are some critical issues raised in the process of employment opportunities for the youths. However the youths are developing such concept in the society that farming is the job of their parents or elders. They do not want to work in the field rather work in manufacturing and in supermarkets. They want to have easy money within a night without getting trouble and without waiting for a long time. It is going to be serious problems in the society. Therefore, it has to be addressed by authorized national or international agencies to attract the youths towards agriculture farming. Youths are automatically the crowd of unemployed members of the society who do not have enough resources for their jobs in agriculture. Many youths have left their jobs due to lacking of resources though they might have skills and knowledge of farming, and motivated too towards farming. Therefore credit / loan facilities should be managed for the youths easily. Regarding knowledge it is necessary to provide them both theoretical as well as practical knowledge (demonstration) of farming with projection of production of the foods to the youths.
Do you think that the trends identified are the key ones in affecting outcomes with respect to youth’s engagement in AFS and broader FSN outcomes? If not, which other trends should be taken into account?
All the three trends are relevant with respect to youth’s engagement in AFS. It would be enough to get high production of food from farming if all these trends are equally applied for them. I have just mentioned above that the youth are fleeing from the farming which will alarming situation in future if it persists. Therefore it is suggested to be taken motivational factor too in the account.
In particular, can you offer feedback on the following:
Where are youth currently under- and over-represented in food systems employment/work?
The youths are under-represented in hard work and time taking jobs like rice plantation, preparation of the muddy land, showing the seeds, weeding the growing plants, harvesting the crop, and carrying the products to home or market / dealers. There are many steps to be completed from farm to kitchen to eat cooked rice by a family. Therefore the youths are escaping this type of job. The over-represented jobs are farming of cash crops and vegetables which do not require such hard works rather get money immediately. Accordingly livestock and aquaculture are examples of over-represented.
How does this change when considering intersectional categories such as gender, place, ethnicity?
Motivational factors can bring changes with the intersectional categories like gender, place and ethnicity.
How has digital technology, agriculture 4.0 and automation affected youth employment in AFS? What is their likely impact in the coming decades?
It is not known exactly at the moment. But such digital technologies might have positive impacts in coming decades.
Under what conditions should children be allowed to work in AFS when they want to?
The children should be allowed only with their parents or guardians only for observing the farming system, and for their enjoyment for playing with mud and clays to increase immunity.
What models of land and resource access and redistribution best support young people to engage in food systems for sustainable livelihoods?
Ownership of land should be kept with the young people. If they do not have their own land for farming there should be available rented land in cheaper rate for them. Similarly, credit and loan facilities should be available w/o interest for long period.
Do these models take account of the differences amongst youth in terms of gender, indigeneity and other characteristics?
Yes. But it is not applicable forever. Changes should be done based on the situation.
What policies/initiatives could integrate traditional and modern knowledges (including educational programming in primary, secondary, post-secondary, and technical training), to prioritize equity, agency, and rights in AFS and create new opportunities for youth?
Formal education on agriculture farming should be included even from primary level to post – secondary too. But there should be provisioned of informal education like training, workshop/seminar, observation visits (demonstrations of farming) and so on.
How do the experiences of young women differ from those of young men in knowledge generation, acquisition and transfer?
Women are more inquisitive to learn the techniques, labourious and productive than the young men. Women are concentrated more than the men.
What are the implications (potentially positive and/or negative) of online platforms and social media increasingly playing the role of knowledge providers?
Social media might be positive in sharing knowledge and experiences of AFS. But some time they are dong exaggeration which should be filtered by the readers.
Dhananjaya Poudyal