THESE YOUTH RECOGNIZE OPPORTUNITY IN AGRICULTURE

some of VIJANA NA KILIMO PROGRAM youth giving instructions to farmers on green peppers cultivation

You have graduated but still not employed? You haven't gone to school but still have nothing to do yet?

Never complain, you still have an opportunity. You can have questions in your mind what kind of opportunity is that? when your thinking what kind of opportunity which can be the source of income to you, a good news is that agriculture can be a helper to you, now youth have recognize that agriculture can be a suitable solution for your unemployment situation.

YOUTH WITH AGRICULTURE

Some VIJANA NA KILIMO PROJECT youth

By recognizing that youth aged between 15 to  30 need special assistance, a group of five youth created a project called 'VIJANA NA KILIMO", a Swahili word which means 'YOUTH  WITH AGRICULTURE"

This project was created in 2016 till now has managed to reach more than 100 youth, focusing on providing agriculture knowledge to youth.

Imani Lubaba, is the founder of the program as well as  leader of those youth is saying according to luck of employment many youth remains dependent to there parents and relatives.

"So we are giving them enough knowledge which can manage them practice profitable agriculture they wont re grate forever, Because many smallholders farmers loos hope when they just face some few challenges" he says; 

"A real meaning of this project is to raise up youth from being dependent  through agriculture by providing them knowledge on pesticide using, fertilizer application e.t.c" he his saying.

What pushes us to create this project is after seeing many farmers in Tanzania practicing local agriculture practice which its profitable.

"Our project consist of five youth, apart from providing knowledge we also have our horticulture farm" he says.

This project is two years old till now so he his saying they need enough capital to make it grow much

"VIJANA NA KILIMO PROJECT its still small so it needs more investment, so that we can reach more youth who haven't yet recognize agriculture importance mostly in this generation" he explained.

There future plans is to reach a lot of youth in Tanzania through this project. They have focus much on youth because there still powerful than elders so through them agriculture sector will develop.

" we aim on perishing youth unemployment problem  trough inspiring and providing agriculture knowledge" he says

They also aiming on opening offices in rural areas to make sure they reach all youth.

WHY AGRICULTURE?

They are saying agriculture pays because many countries they are financial powerful through agriculture even in our country many people have became reach have financial succeeded trough agriculture. My be this might be a reason pushes them considering in agriculture inspiring to youth apart from other sector. 

 Agriculture pays and this is the only work which can make anyone reach because it doesn't require academic certificates. Important thing is to work hard and follow extension officers instructions. He his says.

 Lubaba says "what make them fail in agriculture is that they don't follow extension officers instructions, many don't even visit there extension officers. he suddenly fall in agriculture without knowing important instructions" He says.

 One among the beneficiary of VIJANA NA KILIMO PROJECT Omary Juma (25) who says he has learn a lot of thing which helps him in his agriculture journey.

Juma who leaves in Morogoro region who based in horticulture says before he joined this project he was not gaining much.

Omary Juma in his farm: photo imani lubaba

"It was one Saturday September in past year i was scrolling trough my phone, reading some information's in the internet, i met information on this project through there blog" says.

He says before joining this project my estimated income was not more than 800,000 Tsh But now he his sure of obtaining more than 1.6 million in horticulture within three months.

After joining they tough me on fertilizer application, pesticide application, they taught me which soil is suitable for horticulture farming" says

He advice other youth to use internet in a good way in older to sustain in there lives and not use them  in negative ways.

"For example this group of youth who created this project have used internet to help the entire society, and am proud i have succeeded through them" says.

He also advice youth not to remain at home waiting to be employed thus agriculture can help them 

"I have graduated in the last year because am aware of employment difficulties, i have decided to base in agriculture. So they should not loose hope they should try agriculture.

This artical was written by Usna Kaniki from mwananchi magazine and was published on 27th september 2018

And this English version was translated by  Imani Lubaba from Tanzania na kilimo

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