Food Security Ep43: Why I strongly Believe African Youth are the End to the Hunger.

We are at a pivotal moment in the fight against hunger, with just five years left to meet the 2015 global pledge of eradicating hunger by 2030. Right now, According to recent data, approximately 733 million people affected by hunger. The number is alarming. One in every eleven worldwide go to bed hungry each night (FAO, 2024).

If current trends continue, hunger levels in 2030 could exceed those in 2015, despite the global commitment made under the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. While economic recovery has occurred in some parts, predictions indicate that hunger levels are projected to hardly return to pre-pandemic levels by 2030, a significant setback.

The crisis is being fueled by a mix of ongoing structural issues and recent regional and global shocks. Key factors include economic downturns, persistent conflicts, and the growing frequency of climate-related disasters. When you make a quick assessment of Countries that rely heavily on food imports, they face even greater challenges due to fluctuating global prices.

Climate change is another major disruptor you will experience, as extreme weather events like record-breaking heat and severe flooding in 2023 and 2024 have devastated agricultural production and deepened food shortages in some parts f the African region.

What Are the Biggest Barriers Keeping Youth Out of Agriculture?

Despite these challenges, ending hunger is possible. The world produces more than enough food per person each year. The real issue lies in the uneven distribution of food and the financial struggles of vulnerable communities in accessing it.

Proven strategies exist to eliminate hunger, and the financial resources needed to implement them are well-documented but you can be rest assured, still have some steps up the ladder to translate the strategies to work in working solutions. How do you unpack the strategies to solve the existing gaps across the food system?

One of the most promising solutions is engaging youth in agriculture. Young people bring innovative ideas, energy, and a readiness to embrace modern technology, all of which can boost agricultural productivity and address the aging workforce in the farming sector.

Encouraging youth participation in agriculture not only creates jobs but also enhances food production and accessibility, strengthening overall food security.

However, to fully harness youth potential in agriculture, you must address key barriers such as limited access to resources, the perception of farming as an unattractive career, and gaps in education and training.

How Can You Leverage Technology to Boost Agricultural Productivity?

As young farmer you are more inclined to integrate technological advancements into agriculture. Precision tools such as drones, digital market platforms, and data-driven decision-making improve efficiency while optimizing resource use. Emerging technologies like AI-powered robotics and blockchain can further enhance your productivity and transparency in food systems.

FSPN Africa is poised to provide access to such tools that are endeavored to put you at better position to turn around food production. You can access better farm inputs hence increased Yields and quality, expert advisory, market information and opportunities.

Why Is Value Addition the Key to Ending Hunger in Your Community?

Another crucial strategy to combat hunger is when you enhance avenues for income generation, particularly within the agrifood sector. The most sustainable and resilient way to eradicate hunger is to enhance productivity and raise incomes for the most vulnerable through value addition (UNIDO, 2023). This channel not only increases food production but also ensures that you have the economic means to purchase food, thereby bridging the gap between supply and demand where it is needed most.

To effectively use value addition for food security, you must prioritize several key investments. First, agricultural research and development (R&D), improved extension services, mechanization, and the widespread use of digital tools can significantly boost farm productivity and farmer incomes. Second, infrastructure investments, including reliable irrigation, electricity, rural roads, and adequate storage facilities, are vital to reduce post-harvest losses and ensure food reaches consumers efficiently.

Beyond food production, value addition can generate income for individuals struggling with hunger and poverty through agrifood processing, distribution, and retail. Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in domestic and regional markets has proven highly effective an route FSPN Arica has taken enhance Scaling of agribusiness, Innovations and access to market digitally.

Agrifood processing reduces post-harvest losses, improves food safety, and extends shelf life through better packaging, storage, and preservation techniques like drying, baking and precooking. Additionally, advanced food processing methods and blending enhance the nutritional value of food while increasing market opportunities.

FSPN Africa is continues to work with over 60 youth to scale their ideas and innovations especially for the underutilized foods, by equipping them with tools and information that is a guiding torch in navigating the Agri-preneurship environment and filling the gaps in education training.

The outcome has is promising with some Youths expanding market opportunities, enhancing consumer awareness and access to nutritious underutilized food products. These foods tend to have higher nutrients profile for optimal nutrition security and improving your productivity.

How Can You Overcome Financial Barriers in Agrifood Businesses?

Scaling these investments and technological solutions depends on innovative and inclusive financial systems. One of the biggest obstacles in the agrifood sector is the lack of financial access, particularly for small-scale producers and SMEs, who play a vital role in boosting productivity, reducing poverty and acting as last contact point you source food as a consumer.

Emerging financing models such as supply chain finance, outcome-based financing, and guarantees can help bridge this gap. However, successful implementation requires stronger partnerships between governments, investors, financial institutions and farmers serving organizations to create trust-based credit or donor support environments.

What Policies Do You Need to Support Small Farmers and SMEs?

To ensure that increased incomes from value addition benefit small scale farmers and agrifood SMEs, trade and competition policies must be reformed. Facilitating trade, streamlining regulations, and strengthening competition laws will help create fairer markets where small producers can thrive.

You are likely to get a better entrant into the market as youth innovator and thrive if the policies are friendly to small businesses and provide stepwise roadmap for growth.

How Can You Take Action to Secure a Hunger-Free Future?

Ending hunger ultimately requires a focus on sustainable income generation through localized value addition in the agrifood sector. This strategy must be built on resilience, sustainability, and long-term impact to be effective. Success hinges on a well-coordinated and financing support to Youths in programs like HD4A Agribusiness Accelerator Program, whose innovations are enhancing food and nutrition security and job creation across the food supply chains in Africa. Only a comprehensive, well-sequenced, and properly funded approach will make hunger eradication a reality.

For more information, contact: info@fspnafrica.org