How is Zambiaβs youth training in fall armyworm biocontrol production addressing food safety and security?
The 12th of August marks International Youth Day. CABIβs Youth Engagement Manager, Deogratius Magero, examines how young people in Zambia are learning new skills to improve food production and generate incomes while protecting the environment with natural pest control. Farmers in Zambia face severe challenges from crop pests like fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). Yield losses…
CABI empowers youth to transform agriculture and contribute to greater food security in Kenya and Uganda
Meet smallholder farmer James Muliasi, a resident of Kanye It Village in Njoro Sub County, Kenya, who has emerged as a champion for agricultural development in his community thanks to training received by CABI together with a range of partners.
CABI hosts first ever youth in agriculture stakeholders networking event in Lusaka, Zambia
The majority of Zambiaβs 19.5 million citizens rely upon agriculture for all or part of their livelihoods with the countryβs 1.5 million smallholder farmers β of which 20% are headed by women β dominating the sector with maize being the main staple crop.
Transforming agriculture with drones: empowering youths for a sustainable future
On this UN World Youth Skills Day 2023 (Saturday, 15 July), we celebrate the transformative power of skill development in shaping the lives of young individuals and creating a brighter future, writes Violet Ochiengβ β winner of the Carol Ellison Science Award 2021 and Research Officer-Drone Technology at CABI being supervised by CABIβs Dr Ivan…
Finding the farmers of the future: Encouraging youth engagement in agriculture
Special International Youth Day report by Rebecca Quarterman The number of young people involved in agricultural work in East Africa is significantly dwindling in an age of celebrity, quick income and the βside hustleβ.Β Quite simply, the future of farming rests in the hands of the youth of today and tomorrow β otherwise agricultureβs vital…
App-based agriculture for a tech-savvy farmer
Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa is undergoing a digital revolution bought about through the advancement and increasing availability of mobile technologies. Improved affordability has placed mobile devices in the hands of more Africanβs than ever before, with 444 million subscribed users in 2017. Take Tanzania for example where the average cost of mobile phones has fallen…
Taking action on invasives and youth unemployment in Zambia
Youth unemployment is a significant economic and social burden for Zambia. So too is the impact of invasive species on agricultural production and the natural environment. Are these mutually exclusive challenges, or can youth unemployment and tackling agricultural challenges, such as invasive species, be effectively positioned together to deliver jobs, food security and sustainable agriculture?…
Adapt β Amplify β Accelerate β recommends new report on rural development
According to a new report by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) economic growth is not enough to transform rural areas in developing countries; governments need to develop inclusive policies and tailor investments if they want to make a fundamental change in rural peoplesβ quality of life.
Enhancing youth engagement in agricultural careers
The 12th August marked this yearβs International Youth Day with a theme of Youth Civic Engagement. The aim of the day was to promote civic engagement and participation of youth in politics and public life, so that young people can be empowered and make a full contribution to society, development and peace.
Alcohol and sport: “drinking culture” affects youth health
Witnessing "beer towers" at the recent test match between England and Sri Lanka [Lords cricket ground} and thus the drinking culture amongst young sports fans, prompted my investigation of the health facts behind binge drinking and the misuse of alcohol by youing adults. Binge drinking is linked to increased injuries & accidents, violence, and now research evidence is accumulating for long-term effects : detrimental brain changes, and increased risk of depression and diabetes.