1. Institutions and Mechanism to influence Youth in Agriculture Value Chain FANRPAN 2012 Regional Policy Dialogue White Sands Hotel, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Evodius Rutta Tanzania Youth Environmental Network (TAYEN)

2. OUTLINE  Youth Demographic Profile: Global /Tanzania.  Overview of Tanzania’s Agriculture Sector.  Highlights of Institutions and Mechanism to engage Youth in Agriculture Value Chain.  Challenges  Conclusion and Recommendation.

3. Youth Demographic Profile..  In Tanzania  Youth between age 15 to 35 make 35% of the national population.  47% of the national population are boys while 53% are girls.  Youth unemployment stands 17%, with higher rates in urban areas than in rural areas.

4. Overview of Tanzania's Agric Sector  Agriculture remains and will continue to be mainstay of Tanzania’s economy. 80% of the population depend on agriculture while for rural population agriculture is a primary economic activity.  Agriculture employs 70% of active labour force with women being the major labour supply in the sector.  Agriculture contributes 45-50% of National Gross Domestic Product(GDP) and brings about 66% of foreign exchange while also providing bulk raw materials(cotton, coffee, tobacco fruits, vegetables etc) for local industries.  Major Cash Crops: Coffee, Cotton, Tobacco and Cashew nuts while Major food Crops: Maize, Paddy Rice, Millet, Sorghum, Beans etc.  Important animals: cattle, chicken and goats.

5. Overview of Tanzania's Agric Sector.......  Land: out of 94.5 ha of national land, 44 million ha are classified as suitable for agriculture( arable land).  Farm Size: Agriculture is dominated by small-scale subsistence farming mainly smallholders who operate on 0.5ha to 5ha.  Agricultural labour force: farming is dominated by hand hoe that limits productivity while women supply 70% of agricultural labour force.  Heavily depending on rain fed agriculture.

6. IDENTIFIED KEY BARRIERS  Lack of access to information on available opportunities in agriculture.  Lack better farming techniques  Lack of Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship skills.  Inadequate and lack of clear youth friendly policies.  Lack of finance and credit facilities for youth farming projects

7. KEY MECHANISMS  Re-introduce agriculture in primary and secondary schools.  Promote school based agricultural projects.  Design innovative and attractive financing and credit for youth in agriculture.  Facilitate formation of youth farmers cooperative unions.  Provide training on better farming techniques.  Promote short term crops including vegetables, fruits, vanilla, spices, chilles.

8. POTENTIAL INSTITUTIONS  FAMILY at household level.  Academic and Training Institutions i.e. MATIs, LITI and SUA.  National and Local Government i.e.. MAFCs, MYDvt, PMOLG  International Institutions i.e. UN-FAO, WB, USAID, EU, JICA, AfDB  Private Sector i.e. local banks(CRDB, TIB,NMB), MFIs, TPSF  Local and International NGOs i.e. 4H, Farm Africa, Heifer

9. Institution…..other countries  Mauritius: National Youth Council & Agriculture Research and Extension Unit., National Federation of Young Farmers  Malawi: Civil Society Agriculture Network(CISANET) and Farmers Union. of Malawi  Swaziland: National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAM Board)  Zimbabwe: EBENEZERR a private institution that has established demonstration farms to train youth.  South Africa: National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and South African Youth Council

10. CHALLENGES  Inadequate or no budget allocation in institutions to mainstream “youth” in agriculture (Strategic Plans)  Lack of monitoring and evaluation to check progress of youth programs in agriculture.

11. Conclusion  Agriculture has unique power to eradicate poverty in Tanzania and across Africa.  Young people have the strength and energy to foster agricultural development, there is no food secure Africa without African young farmers.