Youth unemployment, insecure land tenure and weak value chains are
the main obstacles in the way of ending poverty and inequality in West
and Central Africa, a new report by the International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD), in collaboration with the African
Development Bank (AfDB) has stated.
The report unveiled in Abidjan yesterday noted that youth under the
age of 35 account for 75 per cent of the population of the region which
also has the highest number of rural youth than any other region in the
world. Empowering youth is the first step towards achieving prosperity
in the region, says the report.
“The lack of social and economic opportunities for the large number
of young people in the region is the principal driver of migration,
Vice-President of IFAD, Michel Mordasini said.
“However, by making the right investments – to improve
infrastructure, secure land tenure and facilitate their access to
finance and training – we can capture the labour and energy of the young
generation to transform rural areas into vibrant places to live and
work,” he added.
The Rural Development Report 2016: Fostering Inclusive Rural
Transformation is a rallying call for policymakers and development
practitioners to win the global war against poverty. This systematic and
rigorous analysis of the rural sector gives a greater understanding of
what key investments and policy reforms should be prioritized to
transform rural areas in developing countries so that people and nations
can benefit.
Attracting private investment into agriculture and the rural non-farm
economy is vital, states the report, adding that many agricultural
regulations in Africa, actually serve to deter rather than encourage
such investment.
“Reforming the regulations that limit private entry and investment in value chains that serve smallholder farmers must be a priority,” the report emphasised.
According to the report, food systems are changing rapidly to meet
the rising demand and shifting diets of middle-class urban consumers
from grains to dairy, fish, meat and vegetables. In addition, continued
rapid growth of imports shows that there is space for local farmers to
grow their businesses if they can produce competitively.
“Rural transformation is a powerful way to overcome poverty,” the Regional Director, West and Central Africa Division, IFAD, Ides de Willebois said.
“We need to develop rural areas in Africa where people are willing to
invest, which then will enable them to produce more, to attain a
marketable surplus that can be sold at a profit and provide them with
the resources to improve their livelihoods and reinvest.”
by Obinna Chima/Thisday
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