Creating Attractive Jobs for Rural Youth Could Contribute to Africa’s Economic Prosperity

José Graziano da Silva, Director of United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organisation, says countries need to promote a rural and structural transformation that fosters synergies between farm and non-farm activities, especially in the processing, packaging, transportation, distribution, marketing and service provision sectors.

Creating Attractive Jobs for Rural Youth Could Contribute to Africa’s Economic Prosperity

By Khalifa Hemed
Published May 13, 2018

Opportunities should be explored throughout the food chain in order to create enough jobs for young people across Africa.

José Graziano da Silva, Director of United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organisation, says countries need to promote a rural and structural transformation that fosters synergies between farm and non-farm activities, especially in the processing, packaging, transportation, distribution, marketing and service provision sectors.

Graziano da Silva made the remarks at FAO’s Regional Conference for Africa that is dedicated to the theme of creating decent and attractive employment on the mother continent, the world’s ‘youngest’ in terms of the average age of its population.

Estimates suggest that up to 12 million new jobs will have to be created every year to absorb new labour market entrants over the next 20 years. Today some 54 percent of Africa’s working force relies on the agricultural sector for livelihoods, income and employment, especially in family farming.

José Graziano da Silva, Director of United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organisation, says countries need to promote a rural and structural transformation that fosters synergies between farm and non-farm activities, especially in the processing, packaging, transportation, distribution, marketing and service provision sectors. With more people moving to cities, demand on urban food markets will grow, which in turn can generate job opportunities in all agriculture-related activities. But FAO believes that more must be done to create non-agricultural employment in rural areas, including agro-tourism.

“More than ever, strategic partnerships are needed to bring together the African Union, the African Development Bank and the UN system and other development partners,” the FAO Director-General said.

In his address, Graziano da Silva underscored that in line with Sustainable Development Goal 2, achieving Zero Hunger needs to go together with ending all forms of malnutrition, a consequence of which is the current global overweight and obesity epidemic.

“The situation is also worrisome here in Africa,” Graziano da Silva said, citing a World Health Organization estimate that obesity-related diseases may become the biggest killer in Africa by 2030.

Rapid urbanisation and consumption of highly processed foods are the major drivers behind the increase in overweight and obesity. Yet many people in Africa are unaware that certain foods are unhealthy, or that being overweight presents a health risk, he observed.

Graziano da Silva called on players to focus on both the production and consumption of healthy food, calling for more responsible advertising and information campaigns on food products.

“People must be aware about the pros and cons of what they are eating, and also be encouraged to eat healthy food,” he said.