Malawi : how to better involve young people in agriculture?

The place of young people in agriculture

In Malawi, Fert operates in the Northern Region, Mzimba District, where 48% of the population is aged between 10 and 35; anyone under 35 is considered “youth”. The economy is primarily based on the agricultural sector, which accounted for nearly 25% of GDP and 75% of jobs on average over the 2018-2020 period.

Although farming can generate food and income, it is rarely practised by young people, who struggle to find decent employment. To better understand thier lack of interest in agriculture, the Fert Walima team recruited a young farmer, Ephraïm, president of a young farmers’ organization, who was seeking an internship to complete his studies.

Interviewing young people and farmers to understand their difficulties

Ephraïm spoke with 22 young people and farmer leaders, and met with a number of players, including the government departments responsible for supporting young people.

First of all, what stands out from this study is the influence of marriage and patriarchy on the settlement strategies of young people. “Until they are married, young people are dependent on their parents; they may contribute to the work but are rarely consulted in decisions and do not have access to their own land,” reports Ephraïm. Generally, it is only after marriage that parents allocate a plot of land to their children so they can provide for their families. Until then, they live with their parents, on whom they are financially dependent, and it is considered normal for them to invest primarily in the family farm.

Settling down is often a challenge, as young people lack agricultural knowledge and access to land. One young person confides, «When irrigation plots are allocated, young people are placed on plots far from water sources. We are not consulted, it’s not very motivating !».

An agricultural leader supported by Fert Walima explains, «Knowledge is essential for success in farming». In the absence of agricultural training, young people who settle down try to follow as much as possible the practices of experienced farmers around them. Agriculture is still seen by many parents as a demanding and low-paying activity reserved for those who have failed at school. Many young people dream of studying or having a salaried job in the city rather than investing in agricultural production, which they view as an activity reserved for adults.

Young women volunteers but aren’t taken into account

Most young women tend to believe that farming is an activity reserved for men. Ephraïm confirms, « Young women generally do not inherit land because they are expected to join their husband’s farm ». This is especially true in livestock farming, an activity exclusively practiced by young men who usually receive, as a token of appreciation from their parents for their work on the family farm, a head of livestock.

Young farmers leading the way

Faith Kanyenda, a 21-year-old single woman, is not a member of any farmers’ organization. Her mother gave her a small plot of 0.25 acres during the 2022-2023 growing season, where she cultivated peanuts. The income from this sale was used to rent her current plot, purchase inputs, and buy a piglet. Her mother constantly encourages her. Faith dreams of increasing and diversifying her production based on market needs. She also dreams of expanding her capacity to be able to sell to large companies.

Dalines Mhlanga, 29 years old and a member of the OP Doroba, reports having greatly benefited from her cooperative. She has access to the knowledge of field agents and has received a cow from the cooperative that is now in lactation. The income from her daily production is used to finance agricultural production and to meet the needs of her household.

The study revealed that spontaneous, though still modest, initiatives exist at the local level, paving the way for future opportunities. Some young people receive support from their parents or from a farmers’ organization. They are sometimes given a plot of land or a head of livestock to start their activity and are encouraged to produce and generate income, allowing them to expand and invest in small livestock (chickens, goats, or pigs). These young people who successfully engage in agriculture then become a source of inspiration for other youth.

Promising partnerships

Fert has been working since 2022 with two youth clubs that, thanks to the advice, training, and exchange visits they have received, are now producing potatoes and tomatoes—crops that can be easily sold locally and that they did not grow before. One of these clubs has also successfully developed its pig breeding.

The results and recommendations from the study will soon be discussed with some of the young people who participated, as well as the Malawian farmers’ committee, which helps guide Fert’s actions in Malawi. The goal is to determine how Fert can further involve young people in the agricultural sector in the future.