A Letter to My Farmers (467)

Imagine a policy designed to uplift a generation, yet it focuses almost entirely on the needs of the city. While global statistics show that youth constitute nearly 20% of the rural population in many developing countries, these young people are frequently sidelined by homogenous strategies. Unconsciously, we see them as urban people living in a village. Unfortunately, they are a distinct demographic with unique constraints that, if left unaddressed, will continue to drive a mass exodus from our food systems. Why do we keep applying metropolitan solutions to agrarian realities and what does this blindness cost our future?

The main challenge lies in the homogenization trap. Policymakers often group all young people into a single category, focused on digital hubs, incubators and corporate internships but ignoring that rural youth face a completely different set of barriers. While urban youth struggle with competition for white-collar jobs, rural youth fight for basic survival such as the lack of quality vocational training, unreliable electricity, poor road networks and limited internet access. Also, they lack modern equipment, storage facilities and information about improved practices. These difficulties encourage rural-urban migration and leave rural communities with an aging workforce and low productivity.

To change this narrative, support for rural youth must be intentionally specific. This starts with providing practical training in modern farming, agro-processing, and digital agriculture that speaks to their specific context. Solutions must include access to affordable loans, grants, insurance, land-leasing schemes, improved inputs and shared equipment through youth cooperatives that lower the barrier to entry. Importantly, key stakeholders must pivot toward rural-first infrastructure. This means investing in rural irrigation, processing centres, cold-storage facilities and better road networks. In addition, linking young farmers directly to reliable markets, schools, hotels, industries and digital platforms can reduce exploitation and improve their income. Mentorship programmes and business incubation centres can further help them develop sustainable agribusinesses.

In conclusion, rural youths should be intentionally supported because their challenges are specific and cannot be solved by broad youth programmes alone. Treating all youths as a homogenous group may exclude those who need the most assistance. When rural young people receive relevant skills, finance, infrastructure, technology and market opportunities, they can transform agriculture from subsistence activity into a productive business. Supporting them will not only reduce unemployment and rural-urban migration but also strengthen food security, stimulate rural development and secure the future of agribusiness.