Attention: Youth in Namibia
Are you aware that your migration from rural to urban areas is hampering the nation’s agriculture sector’s ability to reduce unemployment and poverty among your age group? According to a recent agri-report by Simonis Storm, this development negatively impacts the potential growth of agriculture in rural areas due to a lack of workforce, which risks future production.
Interest: Why is this important?
The agricultural industry is a crucial component of any economy, especially in Namibia, as it has the potential to absorb the abundant unskilled labor in the country and improve socio-economic indicators such as poverty and unemployment. However, Namibia’s biggest unemployment issue is the youth, and based on certain surveys, they are not keen on living in rural areas and focusing their efforts on agricultural activities.
Desire: What can you do?
By showing interest in the agricultural sector and considering living in rural areas, you can help reduce youth unemployment and poverty while also supporting future food production in the country. If the youth continue to prefer white-collar professions and migrate to urban areas, there may be a shortage of local produce, leading to increased prices and a decrease in food security.
Action: What is the solution?
In this scenario, local farmers will have to increase investments in automation to deal with a labor shortage. Still, if we continue to observe rural-urban migration, the future of the agricultural sector will be uncertain, and we may see an increase in the number of farmers looking to exit the market altogether, which would further affect food production.
Conclusion: The Importance of Agriculture
The agricultural sector is crucial to the development of any nation, and in Namibia, it has the potential to improve socio-economic indicators such as poverty and unemployment. However, the youth’s migration from rural to urban areas is hampering the sector’s ability to reduce unemployment and poverty among their age group. Therefore, it is essential to encourage the youth to consider living in rural areas and show interest in the agricultural sector to support future food production in the country. Let us work together to ensure a sustainable future for Namibia’s agriculture sector.
