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Promoción de la participación y el empleo de los jóvenes en los sistemas agrícolas y alimentarios - Consulta electrónica sobre el alcance del informe propuesto por el Comité Directivo del HLPE

Durante su 46.º período de sesiones celebrado entre el 14 y el 18 de octubre de 2019, el Comité de Seguridad Alimentaria Mundial (CSA) de las Naciones Unidas solicitó al Grupo de alto nivel de expertos en seguridad alimentaria y nutrición (HLPE, por sus siglas en inglés) redactar un informe titulado “Promoción de la participación y el empleo de los jóvenes en los sistemas agrícolas y alimentarios”, que se presentará en 2021 [1].

El informe, que proporcionará recomendaciones a la línea de trabajo del CSA sobre la “Promoción de la participación y el empleo de los jóvenes en los sistemas agrícolas y alimentarios”, incluirá lo siguiente:

  • se analizarán las oportunidades y los factores que limitan la participación y el empleo de los jóvenes en los sistemas agrícolas y alimentarios, incluido el acceso de los jóvenes a:
    1. los conocimientos, la información y la educación;
    2. la tierra productiva, los recursos naturales y los insumos;
    3. los instrumentos productivos y los servicios de extensión, asesoramiento y financieros;
    4. los programas de capacitación, formación y asesoramiento;
    5. la innovación y las nuevas tecnologías;
    6. los mercados;
    7. los procesos de formulación de políticas.

  • se examinarán los aspectos relacionados con el empleo, el salario y las condiciones de trabajo;

  • se analizarán las normas, los reglamentos y los planteamientos normativos -incluidos los enfoques territoriales- destinados a abordar la complejidad de las transformaciones estructurales de carácter económico, cultural, social y espacial que se están produciendo actualmente en todo el mundo;

  • se explorará el potencial de los sistemas alimentarios y los vínculos mejorados entre el medio rural y el urbano para ofrecer más empleos y de mayor calidad a las mujeres y los jóvenes.

Para implementar esta solicitud del CSA, el HLPE está poniendo en marcha una consulta electrónica abierta para recabar opiniones y comentarios sobre el alcance y elementos fundamentales del informe, que se describen a continuación.

 

Por favor tenga en cuenta que, de forma paralela a esta consulta, el HLPE desea recibir candidaturas de expertos interesados en incorporarse al equipo del proyecto para este informe. La convocatoria para la presentación de candidaturas está abierta hasta el 21 de enero de 2020. Haga clic aquí para obtener detalles (en inglés).

Borrador de alcance del informe del HLPE sobre “Promoción de la participación y el empleo de los jóvenes en los sistemas agrícolas y alimentarios” propuesto por el Comité Directivo del HLPE

La participación de los jóvenes -mujeres y hombres- es fundamental para realizar la transición hacia una agricultura y unos sistemas alimentarios sostenibles y saludables. Se calcula que entre 2015 y 2030 nacerán en el mundo más de 2 000 millones de niños (ONU, 2015) [2]. La mayoría de estos niños vivirán en África subsahariana y Asia meridional, donde la agricultura y los sistemas alimentarios son la principal fuente de empleo, y las necesidades en términos de disponibilidad, acceso y calidad de los alimentos y nutrición son mayores. Existe una gran cantidad de oportunidades laborales sin explotar en el sector agroalimentario, que se ve cada vez más afectado por una considerable limitación de mano de obra en muchas zonas del mundo. Sin embargo, el acceso limitado a la tierra, los recursos naturales, infraestructuras, financiación, tecnología, mercados y conocimientos, y unas condiciones laborales precarias, impiden que el sector resulte atractivo y sostenible para los jóvenes. El sector agrícola cuenta con una incidencia elevada de informalidad, trabajo ocasional, subempleo, trabajo infantil, trabajo forzoso y trabajadores pobres, y una de las tasas más bajas de acceso a la protección social y a la afiliación sindical. Una vez casadas, las mujeres jóvenes se dedican en su mayor parte a la agricultura -habitualmente para subsistir- mientras que los hombres jóvenes abandonan el sector en busca de otras oportunidades de obtener ingresos y una mayor autonomía. Las normas tradicionales y culturales discriminatorias dejan a las mujeres en desventaja en lo que respecta al acceso a los recursos productivos, limitando su capacidad de innovar en sus explotaciones agrícolas. Por lo tanto, es importante comprender mejor las aspiraciones de los jóvenes -diferenciadas en función del género, la condición económica, la etnia y otros factores - para hacer posibles unos sistemas alimentarios sostenibles.

A medida que la edad media de los agricultores de todo el mundo se acerca a los 60 años, se hace indispensable desarrollar sistemas, políticas y programas que involucren a un mayor número de jóvenes en la agricultura y las profesiones agrícolas, incluidas la investigación y la innovación. Éstos deberían proporcionar espacios y mecanismos para la participación y oportunidades para la innovación. La agricultura tradicional de subsistencia no es atractiva para los jóvenes y es esencial transformar la agricultura y los sistemas alimentarios de manera que constituya un reto intelectual y sea gratificante desde el punto de vista económico. Mantener a los jóvenes en la agricultura requiere también mejorar los niveles de vida y la calidad de los servicios en las zonas rurales y las ciudades de tamaño mediano.

La implicación y el liderazgo de los jóvenes –mujeres y hombres- en los sistemas agrícolas y alimentarios es esencial, ya que deben ser percibidos como agentes de cambio y no -únicamente- como beneficiarios de asistencia y apoyo. La participación de los jóvenes en la toma de decisiones relacionadas con los sistemas agrícolas y alimentarios requiere cambios en el entorno propicio, mediante el establecimiento de mecanismos específicos que permitan que la voz de los jóvenes sea escuchada, así como el reconocimiento de su condición social, económica, cultural y política, para permitir su plena participación. El entorno legislativo e institucional influye en el respeto de los derechos de los jóvenes, las condiciones de trabajo, la creación de empleo y la participación juvenil. Se debe promover la coherencia entre la legislación y las políticas sectoriales y de empleo, para asegurar que no haya objetivos contradictorios entre éstas y que se refuercen mutuamente.

Los objetivos de este informe son comprender mejor los motivos -diferenciados por género- de la limitada participación de los jóvenes en los sistemas agrícolas y alimentarios, identificar nuevas oportunidades para que los jóvenes mejoren su eficiencia y sostenibilidad, y proporcionar recomendaciones para facilitar su participación activa y el empleo. Estas recomendaciones estarán en consonancia con los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) -en particular los ODS 1, 2, 5, 8, 9 y 10- y otros acuerdos a nivel mundial y regional.

El Comité Directivo del HLPE agradece sus aportaciones a esta consulta electrónica. En particular, le invitamos a:

  • Compartir sus comentarios sobre los objetivos y el contenido de este informe, tal y como se ha descrito anteriormente;
  • Compartir buenas prácticas y experiencias exitosas para aumentar la participación de los jóvenes en la gobernanza de los sistemas agrícolas alimentarios; superar los obstáculos que impiden la participación de los jóvenes como empresarios; y generar oportunidades de trabajo decente para los jóvenes en los sistemas agrícolas y alimentarios, a diferentes niveles (desde el local al mundial) y por diferentes partes interesadas (públicas, privadas o de la sociedad civil), en particular en lo que respecta a la legislación y el entorno propicio;
  • Compartir las referencias más recientes que deben ser consideradas en este informe;
  • Aportar sus comentarios a las siguientes preguntas -identificando cualquier cuestión de género- para orientar la preparación del informe:
    1. ¿Por qué es necesario promover la participación y el empleo de los jóvenes en los sistemas agrícolas y alimentarios? ¿Cuáles son las cuestiones y oportunidades fundamentales?
    2. ¿Cómo afectan la evolución y las transiciones de la agricultura, los sistemas alimentarios y la nutrición a la participación y el empleo juvenil? ¿Cómo puede resultar el empleo en la agricultura y los sistemas alimentarios más atractivo para los jóvenes, teniendo especialmente en cuenta la continuidad entre el espacio rural y el urbano? ¿Qué se necesitaría para mejorar los niveles de vida y los servicios en las zonas rurales y en las ciudades medianas, para retener a los jóvenes y a las familias jóvenes?
    3. ¿Qué transformaciones son necesarias en la gobernanza para facilitar y alentar la participación de los jóvenes en los sistemas agrícolas y alimentarios, y qué medidas se requieren para dotar a los jóvenes de las habilidades y confianza necesarias para participar plenamente en estos procesos de toma de decisiones?
    4. ¿Cuáles son las vías más prometedoras para transformar los actuales sistemas agrícolas y alimentarios de los países en desarrollo y hacerlos más atractivos para los jóvenes?
    5. ¿Cuáles son las mejores estrategias para implicar plenamente a los jóvenes -en particular a las mujeres-, en oportunidades para adquirir las habilidades y posibilidades de formación adecuadas para desarrollar sus conocimientos y permitirles liderar la innovación en la agricultura y la transformación los sistemas alimentarios?
    6. ¿Cuáles son las políticas más apropiadas para eliminar los obstáculos y empoderar a los jóvenes para iniciar y/o ampliar actividades en la agricultura y los servicios relacionados, la cadena de suministro de alimentos, la agroecología y el entorno alimentario, así como en la nutrición y la innovación, de acuerdo con sus habilidades, aspiraciones, activos y contextos?
    7. ¿Cuáles son las políticas e iniciativas más adecuadas para facilitar la transición del sistema educativo al mercado de trabajo y la incorporación y permanencia de los jóvenes en las actividades relacionadas con la agricultura y los sistemas alimentarios? ¿Cuáles son los nodos y actividades de las cadenas de suministro que tienen un mayor potencial para generar empleo juvenil decente? ¿Qué nuevos tipos de formación se necesitan para fomentar enfoques más agroecológicos de la agricultura?
    8. ¿Cuál es el alcance de las disparidades salariales para con los jóvenes -en particular las mujeres-, en los sistemas agrícolas y alimentarios, y qué ejemplos de experiencias exitosas hay en la eliminación de esas diferencias salariales?
    9. ¿Qué datos se necesitan para contribuir a la formulación de políticas que aumenten la participación y el empleo de los jóvenes, y para concienciar sobre las necesidades, vulnerabilidades y oportunidades específicas de los jóvenes desfavorecidos?
 
 

[1] La solicitud para redactar el Informe n.º 16 del HLPE se ha extraído del documento “Programa de trabajo plurianual del CSA para 2020-23" (Ref: CFS 2019/46/7) del 46.º período de sesiones del CSA, disponible en: http://www.fao.org/3/na703es/na703es.pdf

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As a Coordinator of the University of Lagos Organic Demonstration Farm, I have come to realize that over 90% of the students who actively participate in the farm practical do so in order to earn mark to boost their grades and not with for interest for career development. The lack of motivation stems from non automation of the current farm infrastructure (manual tilling watering, weeding etc), degraded soil resulted from prolong use of synthetic input, insufficient access to organic input and unavailability of simple test kits that can aid practical learning and research among others. These challenges have huge impact on students’ perception and behavior and further close their understanding about the opportunities that fly around farming activities.

One of the main issues agriculture currently faces worldwide is one of perception. Be that the perception of agriculture as a backward industry where one only gets involved in it if you have no other options or of agriculture destroying the environment and one of the main causes of climate change.

These perceptions need to change. This change will have to happen at a young age and children must be enabled to see what an exciting prospect it is to be involved in agriculture. 

Attached is a Nuffield report looking at just this issue, it was written from an Irish perspective but it could easily be adjusted for any region or country. If it can be ensured that this generation of children grow up with an appreciation, interest and even an excitement around the possibilities that agriculture offers them, then the world will reap the benefits in the future.

See the attachments:

Tapera Chivhaka

UNISA
South Africa

All African countries are talking land redistribution. This is the right time to seriously consider how the Youth and woman are involved. Not everyone should go into farming. Those Youth that has a sort of qualification or background in Agriculture should be considered. This indicates that Agriculture is seriously considered as carrier. We should avoid the situation which happened in Zimbabwe where land was distributed to politicians. Politicians should be politicians. Farmers should be farmers!

Phase Out Aging Farmers from Farmer Associations

Youths’ engagement in agriculture and in any other development sector is a national problem and even within the nation it could be regional or zone issue just the way it is in Nigeria. Take for example, northern part of the country specifically northwest, here the bottom line problems of youths for agriculture and food security development are more traditional more accurately than governance, literacy, technology adoption or policy implementation. Looking back at the days when rural-urban movement was normal daily agricultural marketing activity the youths were still born and bred in rural agricultural production system that provided high level food security engagements. After each day’s movement to urban areas the youths trace the way back to rural areas same day for rural life continuity. But rural-urban migration started taking shape when rural youths come to understand they are sidelined in community development aspects controlled by the elders. Remember, agriculture was then very attractive and profitable and any person who entirely depends on agriculture was well respected in the community. However, in the elders state of mind a youth is always small-minded disorganized human being that should not be entrusted with community’s development aspects until the age 40 plus. At that material time females are out of the question as they were kept only for raising family and household affairs. Western education was deliberately denied for youths in fear of them taking over elders’ prominence in the community. Time changes and so everything!

This negative traditional trend hunts youths to date that couldn’t be unassociated with failures of farmer associations in the region. The connection between farmer associations and food security is organizational attitude to acquiring knowledge and skill for positive change and organizational ability brought by internal unity of purpose, interest and responsibility under one roof of vision to produce, distribute and share. By traditional design and suppression aging out farmers are always leaders in emerging farmers organizations since time immemorial. They are the administrators; technical directors and commercial managers in any farmer organization found in the region. Under this dispensation the youths have no chance of bailing out to open development opportunities for themselves and community at large while food security and nutrition shall continue suffering until there is radical changes in the structure and duties and responsibilities of such organizations.

By rough estimation there are over 20 million population of graduate, skilled and unskilled youths in northwest region of Nigeria that are idly living on massive arable land with water reservoirs sufficient enough to support year round agricultural productions for direct consumption, supply local manufacturing industries and for exporting. This will never happen beyond 2030 unless aging out farmers are graciously and tactically phased out of the leadership seats of farmer organizations for gradual replacement with upcoming energetic, knowledge-full, innovative and intelligent male and female youths to manage and control all aspects of farmer organizations across the region.    

 

Promoting youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food system

From the academic and practical points of view, youth, who are the majority of most developing nations’ populations, are not usually attracted to taking agriculture as a profession, career, or enterprise.

From the developing nations' perspective, the main reasons identified are i. Agriculture is perceived and practiced as males’ enterprise, although females are the majority of the workforce; ii. The use of manual tools, as well as the unattractive nature of farming; and iii. Its low profitability; agriculture is associated with poverty among the youth.

Hence, to promote youth’s engagement and employment in agriculture, there must be i. conscious mainstreaming of gender equity principles and ICT into the teaching, research, service provision, and practice of agriculture at all levels; ii. Development of gender-responsive low cost and available technologies to ease activities along the Agriculture value chain; iii. Youth empowerment and teaching agriculture as a profit-oriented subject at all levels; and v. formulation and implementation of gender-responsive policies at all levels.

(Olanike Deji, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria)

Youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food system can be effectively promoted from curricula and practical aspects. Youth, who are the majority of most developing nations’ populations, are not attracted to taking agriculture as a profession nor as an entrepreneur or career.

From the perspectives and experience in most developing countries, the main reasons identified are i. Agriculture is perceived and practiced as males’ enterprise, although females are the majority of the workforce; ii. The use of manual tools, as well as the unattractive nature of farming; and iii. Its low profitability; agriculture is associated with poverty among the youth.

Hence, to promote youth’s engagement and employment in agriculture, there must be i. conscious mainstreaming of gender and ICT into the teaching, research, service provision, and practice of agriculture at all levels; ii. Development of gender-responsive low cost and available technologies to ease activities along the Agriculture value chain; iii. Youth empowerment and the teaching of agriculture as a profit-oriented subject at all levels; and v. formulation and implementation of gender-responsive policies at all levels. (Olanike Deji, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria.

 

This relates to youth access to extension &  advisory services

In 2013, I published a blog, "Youth: Potential Target for Agricultural Extension" , wherein, I emphasised reorineting extension services keeping youth as potential target. Youth are often more willing to adopt new ideas and technologies compared older generation of farmers,  therefore, agricultural extension services should target youth to transform agriculture.Young farmers often have greater capacity for innovation, imagination, initiative and entrepreneurship than older adults and these characteristics should be effectively harnessed by extension services to provide better livelihood opportunities for youth in agriculture. In India, a number of programmes, initiatives have been taken to engage youth.

Please visit my blog at

https://www.aesanetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/AESA-BLOG-10.pdf

 

When we conduct surveys, often we consult & take into account the views of Head of household, who is generally male & aged.This excludes the young & women who too has stake in agriculture, if not much now but surely they are the future farmers. Once we get their views on the problems and constraints and how they can be supported, then only we can develop policies which support their constructive engagments in agriculture, help them retaining in rural areas to avoid migrating to cities. Youth often find it exciting to work on value chains, rather than just primary production of agricultural commodities. In our youth mentoring programme, we found youth were more excited meeting agripreneurs compared to farmers doing routine farming activities. The agripreneurs were adding value to primary farm products by processing,  packaging and handling marketing even online selling farm products. Many youth are now organizing themselves as Farmer producer groups and enjoy marketing farm products alongside producing farm commodities innovatively. There is need to bring changes in school curriculums to ignite young minds on modern farming practices including export orientations, we need more youth mentoring programmes, handholding to establish them into agribusinesses. We are currently supporting agri-startups, wherein, many innovative ideas by youths are being incubated in research institutions and universites. Young and women are taking lot of interest in agriventures, which gives positive signals for farming sector. Also, many youths with urban background, are now taking up agriculture, often giving up their high profile jobs. These are new role models for rural youths.  Agriculture sector needs more glamour, we have to make it attractive to youth.

https://ypard.net/2017-09-11/make-agriculture-%E2%80%98cool%E2%80%99-yo…

https://ypard.net/testimonials/mentoring-rural-youth-make-agriculture-a…

Here are some brief comments on promoting the youth's active participation in agriculture and food systems:

1. Designing agriculture training programs/offerings (e.g. agribusiness) and training methods (for instance through ICT, community-based, industry-informed, mentorship, etc) that are appropriate to the youth.

2. Involving key stakeholders (such as parents, local communities, etc) and not just students.

3. Pursuing value-addition in the food and agriculture value-chain.

4. Development of ICT-based innovations and interventions for agriculture and food security (for instance: via mobile technologies, Internet-of-Things, drones, etc).

5. Promoting youth's access to credit for agriculture and food security projects, activities and businesses.

6. Promoting youth's access to natural resources (e.g. land), agricultural inputs and markets for agriculture and food security projects, activities and businesses.

7. Creating social and support networks through which the youth can share information and access services.

  • Share your comments on the objectives and content of this report as outlined above;

These objectives are very broad and not specified for a different level (local, regional, or international)

These objectives should include enhancement and attraction for working in agriculture and food system.

These objectives should include economic aspect clearly.

  • Share good practices and successful experiences to improve youth engagement in the governance of agriculture and food systems; to address obstacles hindering youth ability to engage as entrepreneurs, and to generate decent work opportunities for youth in agriculture and food systems, at different scales (from local to global) and by different stakeholders (public, private or civil society), including with respect to legislation and the enabling environment;

1st of all, these can be achieved through different aspects:

  1. Education (Agriculture Technical colleges / Institutes).
  2. Long term loan OR just subsidies.
  3. Joined SME’s (small enterprises).
  4. Agriculture Society.
  5. Land tenure for the graduated youth.
  6. Guaranteed markets (locally, regionally & internationally)
  7. Farm business School
  8. Maps & data base (soil, land, water, land suitability, investment …etc.)

Here in Oman we have a very good and successful practice, which is Agriculture Society in different region of Oman for a different crop.

  • Share the most recent references that should be considered in this report;

I don’t have it, but we can add here many case studies from different countries (it’s under formulation)

  • Provide feedback on the following questions, identifying any gender issues, to guide the development of the report:
    1. Why is there a need to promote youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food systems? What are the key issues and opportunities?
  • To enhance the agriculture and food system by new high tech / pro. / apps. through youth.
  • To supply the markets of high value crops and their manufactured food.
  • To strengthen the supply chain & logistics of markets locally/regionally/internationally.
  • Reduce the un-employee ratio in the countries.
  • Reduce indirectly the crop damage and waste food.
  • Change livelihood of new generation
  • Family security and safety.
  • Food security for their future.
  1. How do the evolution and transitions of agriculture, food systems and nutrition affect youth engagement and employment? How can agriculture and food systems employment become more attractive for youth, especially considering the rural-urban continuum? What would be needed to improve standards of living and services in rural areas and mid-sized towns, to retain youth and young families?

These can be achieved by minimize by:

  • Reconsider the Land Use in rural areas based on agricultural land suitability.
  • Call for local / regional / international agriculture investments.
  • Build up the infrastructure (roads, telecommunication, markets…etc.) for the agriculture business.
  1. What governance transformations are necessary to enable and encourage youth participation in agriculture and food systems, and what actions are required to equip youth with the necessary skills and confidence in fully engaging in these decision-making processes?
  • Market
  • Education (college level at least)
  • Training
  • Loan / subsidies
  • Logistic
  • Involve the youth farmers in agriculture and food exhibitions.
  1. What are the most promising pathways to transform current agriculture and the food systems in developing countries to make them more attractive to the youth?

Soil maps, investment maps and data base THEN visibility studies THEN SME’s with government support THEN farming THEN communication (local, regional, international, markets) THEN logistic companies sustainability

  1. What are the best strategies for fully engaging youth, in particular young women, in opportunities to acquire adequate skills and learning opportunities to further develop their knowledge and enable them to be leaders in innovative agriculture and the transformation of food systems?

Training, Facilities, SME’s, Markets

  1. What are the most appropriate policies to remove obstacles to empower youth initiate and/or upscale activities in agriculture and related services, in the food supply chain, in agro ecology, and in the food environment, as well as in nutrition and innovation, in accordance to their skills, aspirations, assets and contexts?
  • Reduce or Remove taxes for a certain year
  • Give them a loan with very low interest
  • Well and long term training program (farming, pest treatment, irrigation, farming business …. etc)
  • Open a guaranteed market for their products
  1. What are the most appropriate policies and initiatives to facilitate the education-to-labour market transition and youth recruitment and retention in agriculture and food systems’ related activities?

Government and/or organizations must give an attention to build up a system of agriculture technical colleges (irrigation system insulation, farming system technique, farm business school, livestock related issue …. etc)

  • What nodes and activities in supply chains have the highest potential for generating decent jobs for youth? Logistic of agriculture and livestock products.
  • Import/export businesses.
  • Markets
  • Integrated Agricultural Project (plant / livestock)

What new types of training are needed foster more agro ecological approaches to farming?

  • Modern or high tech agriculture (integrated hydroponic and aquaponics system).
  • Farm business school
  • How to build up an agriculture society.
  1. What is the extent of wage discrepancies against youth and women in agriculture and food systems, and what are some successful experiences in removing such wage differentials?
  • 1st part: the discrepancies in this issue depending on countries development and counties GDP.
  • 2nd part: we can remove these differences by involving the youth farmer’s (both gender) as partners and shareholders in the agricultural project
  1. What data is necessary to support policy development to enhance youth engagement and employment, and to create awareness of the specific needs, vulnerabilities and opportunities of disadvantaged youth?

On country level we need the following:

  1. Total population
  2. Gender ratio
  3. Gender ration on the base of different age
  4. Gender qualification
  5. Population density and distribution map
  6. Investment map
  7. Land use map
  8. Land suitability map
  9. Soil & water maps
  10. Integrated studies of the targeted areas for the agriculture and food systems.
  11. Local, regional & international markets.
  12. Agricultural education data.
  13. Training / Agriculture extension / Farming business school data