Engaging youth in agriculture and related businesses can keep rural areas vibrant and counteract the tendency of migration of youth from rural to urban areas. It is vital that young people are offered education and training in agriculture, have a voice in influencing agricultural and rural policy, and are encouraged to engage in rural innovation. Agricultural advisors and private-sector players often regard young people as more entrepreneurial and eager to try out, adapt or develop new agricultural technologies than are older farmers.
Prolinnova partners are promoting innovation by youth in agriculture and local agri-food enterprises. Some examples of such initiatives are:
- Identifying local innovation by youth (through farmer innovation contests and fairs)
- Engaging youth in Participatory Innovation Development (PID), e.g. integration of PID into educational curriculum, field visits for students, thesis opportunities
- Engaging youth in farmer-led documentation using mixed media.
Prolinnova collaborates with a USA-based NGO, A Growing Culture (AGC), in involving youth in documenting local innovation, including innovation by young people.
