JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (ADV) – Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has urged African governments to invest in rural development and agriculture as this offers rural youth an alternative to migration.
Working in over 130 countries worldwide and with over 94 member states, FAO is a specialised agency of United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Its goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.
FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva stated that investing in rural areas and agriculture is crucial to achieve prosperity in Africa and to guarantee the continent’s young people an alternative to migration.
“In Africa, we need to invest in rural development aimed at creating jobs and opportunities for young people to remain in rural areas” said Da Silva speaking recently at the high level EU-African Alliance in Agriculture event which is part of this week’s Global in Berlin.
“We need youth for modern agriculture,” he emphasised.
Da Silva also mentioned that almost half of Africa’s population remains extremely poor and food insecure, and it is critical to channel public and private investments towards the agricultural sector.
“Fostering the creation of decent jobs in rural areas, and not only in the agricultural sector, but in other areas and sectors, could help rural populations remain in their homelands,” he said.
Da Silva further stated that most of the young migrants come from the rural areas but young people are essential to achieve a modern and dynamic agricultural sector in Africa, which is vital to fight hunger and poverty, and address the impacts of climate change.
“Therefore, it is critical to unlock employment opportunities in the agriculture sector and make it more attractive for young people.”
According to FAO’s State of Food and Agriculture 2018, the number of international migrants increased from 153 million in 1990 to over 250 million today while migration from rural areas accounts for at least 50 percent of all internal movements, especially in regions with high urbanization rates. In sub-Saharan Africa this share can be up to 75 percent.
Da Silva also welcomed the role of EU-Africa Agriculture Task Force which can ensure that new technologies reach and better serve often marginalized, rural people, including those living in fragile contexts.
FAO is already reportedly to be working with partners to facilitate pro-poor investments that can enable access to new technologies, capacity development, market information, networks and social protection.
FAO also recently organised a high-level panel on “Utilizing the power of digital innovations for youth, smallholders and family farmers” during the ended Global Forum.
© Bur-JHB – M.C – African Daily Voice (ADV) – Follow us on Twitter : @ADVinfo_en
