DAR ES SALAAM: ONE of the biggest socioeconomic challenges facing Tanzania is youth unemployment, particularly among those aged between 18 and 24.
With a rising birth rate and declining mortality rate, this segment of the population is likely to expand further, compounding the challenge unless serious interventions are introduced.
This comes at a time when various initiatives are being implemented by public and private institutions to mentor, facilitate and equip young people to venture into agriculture in a meaningful way.
At this juncture, I must acknowledge the immense contribution of various accelerators that are incubating young agribusiness entrepreneurs.
They are doing a commendable job. But why are young people reluctant to engage in agriculture? The following are some of the reasons.
Perception
There is a deeply entrenched negative perception of agriculture among young people. To many, agriculture is an outdated practice reserved for the unsuccessful and elderly, rather than a pathway to success. Partly, they have a reason.
For many years, agriculture in Tanzania has largely been subsistencebased, with farmers concentrating on producing enough to meet household food requirements.
Any surplus is then used to meet other basic needs. This should not surprise anyone. Young people do not exist in a vacuum; they are born and raised within societies that shape their perceptions through positive or negative attitudes.
Over time, these attitudes become beliefs, habits and traditions. Changing such perceptions is not easy because attitudes influence aspirations and, ultimately, the choices people make.
Reversing negative attitudes towards agriculture therefore requires sustained effort. Every community faces this challenge in one form or another, although the issues may differ from one society to another.
The land question
Although Tanzania is widely regarded as having vast tracts of unused land suitable for agriculture, few people acknowledge that much of this land is not owned by young people. Even when young people decide to acquire land, they need capital to purchase it.
Consequently, those who can afford to venture into farming are often employed young people who use their salaries to invest in agribusiness.
They are better positioned to purchase farms in locations of their choice. For many others, however, access to land remains a major barrier to entering the sector.
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Finance
As noted earlier, the predominantly subsistence nature of agriculture also discourages young people. Seeing is believing, as the saying goes, and the traditional methods used in many farming communities do little to attract a generation exposed to modern agricultural practices elsewhere.
Through technology and greater access to information, Tanzanian youth can see how agriculture in more developed economies has evolved, from land preparation to production, processing and marketing.
They recognise that profitable farming often requires modern technology, improved inputs and substantial investment.
Capital is essential not only for acquiring land but also for purchasing inputs such as pesticides, improved seeds and machinery, including tractors.
However, capital in Tanzania can be expensive and, in many cases, difficult to access. For young people seeking loans to invest in agriculture, the challenges can be even greater.
Tanzanian banks provide substantial financing to the economy annually, yet only a small proportion goes to agriculture.
If, as reported, agriculture receives just seven per cent of annual bank lending of about 20tri/- this points to the need for innovative financial products that meet the needs of young agribusiness entrepreneurs while remaining commercially viable for lenders.
Developing suitable financing arrangements could help reduce the barriers that prevent young people from realising their potential in agriculture.
Until these challenges are addressed, the energetic and ambitious but economically constrained younger generation may remain an untapped resource rather than an opportunity to transform agriculture, strengthen the economy and improve food security.