Youth Engagement in Agribusiness: Perception, Constraints, and Skill Training Interventions in Africa: A Systematic Review

Ng’atigwa et al. (2020) [68] Tanzania Quantitative Several factors have been identified as significantly affecting young adult participation in horticultural agribusiness. Positive factors include primary school education, education beyond form IV, management innovation, credit availability, a favorable perception of horticulture for agribusiness, and improved packaging materials. However, sex and land size were found to have a negative and significant effect on adolescent participation in horticulture agribusiness. These findings can inform policymakers and stakeholders in the agricultural sector about the measures to increase adolescent participation in horticulture agribusiness. Akrong and Kotu (2022) [63] Benin Quantitative Young people of wealthier backgrounds are more likely to launch agricultural ventures. In contrast, those from lower-income backgrounds, with less schooling, no experience in business, and living in urban areas are more likely to launch nonagricultural enterprises. Baloyi et al. (2022) [47] South Africa Quantitative The study found that young people in rural areas were enthusiastic about participating in all stages of the agricultural value chain. However, their participation varied according to several factors, including those related to their family and their access to education, land, and technology. Their access to other services and resources and their high dependence on them dampened their enthusiasm for involvement. Ouko et al. (2022) [28] Kenya Review The research revealed that young people in Kenya face socioeconomic barriers that prevent them from pursuing agripreneurship, such as preconceived notions, a lack of skills, a scarcity of resources (such as land, money, and contacts), a lack of knowledge about the market, the effects of climate change, the inadequacy of current policies, and the lack of demand for their products. Kodom et al. (2022) [29] Ghana Quantitative The findings showed that the youth believed that the cultivation of cocoa is an occupation for the elderly, contributing to the lack of interest in cocoa cultivation among the young. Beneficiaries have used the newfound information and abilities to improve the quality and quantity of cocoa fields, shifting public opinion in a favorable direction. Mkong et al. (2021) [48] Cameroon Quantitative The findings highlighted that factor such as the mother’s educational background, family income, and agricultural experience at home have a considerable impact on whether a student chooses agriculture as a college major. Similarly, where a person grew up and their degree of education affect their preferred involvement in the agricultural sub-sector. Increased participation of young people in agricultural and rural economic activities might be achieved by making the agricultural industry more appealing and improving the sector’s working conditions. Adeyanju et al. (2021) [76] Nigeria Quantitative The descriptive result showed that most respondents (56%) reported access to finance as their major barrier to participating in agribusiness and agribusiness training. Other barriers include a need for more mentorship and information. Adeyanju et al. (2021) [76] Nigeria Quantitative The research showed that factors such as age, sex, level of education, family composition, farm characteristics, and individuality played a role in finding whether young people participated in the Fadama Boys programme. The three main challenges were more resources, role models, and knowledge. Unnikrishnan et al. (2022) [75] Ghana Quantitative The results of the impact evaluation suggest that young people who participated in the programme were more willing to become farmers, improve their farming techniques, and increase their cocoa production. In addition, they increased their use of financial institutions, including banks, mobile money, and community lending and savings groups. Bello et al. (2022) [70] Nigeria Mixed method The findings showed that participation in an agricultural programme alleviated poverty among youth, with a 28% decrease in exposure to future poverty. Intervention programmes, such as YIAPs, should be increased and scaled up to promote youth welfare and reduce/eradicate poverty and susceptibility to poverty. Bello et al. (2021) [69] Nigeria Mixed method The success of the YIA programme with young people was significantly affected by factors such as their level of education, access to training, participation in non-farming activities, membership in youth groups, capacity to get loans, production resources, and geographic location. Increasing participation rates and job prospects can be achieved by strengthening social networks, approving credit systems, upgrading vocational education, and progressing in education. Fasakin et al. (2022) [42] Nigeria Quantitative The results of the PSM and IPWRA indicate that a significant increase in youth participation in agriculture may lead to a 1088.78 kg/ha improvement in paddy rice production, with also an increase in their income. The government and other stakeholders must promote easy access to loans and land without collateral to get more young people involved in intensive agriculture. Haggblade et al. (2015) [7] Undefined Qualitative The study’s results suggest that young people from rural areas are drawn to agribusiness because of its lucrative opportunities. On the contrary, young people from urban areas are drawn to the field because of their access to higher education in the sciences. Ogunmodede et al. (2020) [14] Nigeria Quantitative The results revealed that those who participated in N-Power Agro made more money than those who did not. Factors such as age, education level, years in agribusiness, and job status significantly affected the decision to start a business and join the programme. Geza et al. (2021) [88] Undefined Review It was discovered that current agricultural initiatives focus primarily on increasing productivity but result in poor incomes and insufficient social protection. The surveyed youth also shared a pessimistic view that agriculture can improve living conditions. This may be because young people recognize the importance of the agriculture sector for overall economic development but need to be actively involved in it. Geza et al. (2022) [43] South Africa Review The results indicated that the younger generation continues to encounter considerable obstacles in the demand and supply of the labor market. This is due to a lack of access to productive resources, such as land and finance. There is an urgent need for greater inclusiveness in the development and execution of policies, which restricts their participation in agricultural and rural development programmes. Tarekegn et al. (2022) [64] Ethiopia Quantitative According to the results of the probit model, the variables education level, credit-getting bureaucracy, lack of starting capital, fear of the group, risk and uncertainty, and lack of working space all play a significant role in determining whether young people engage in farm businesses. Maïga et al. (2020) [44] Undefined Review Young people who participated in skill building programmes could find employment, start their agriculture businesses, improve their performance, and become involved in agricultural extension service support. Mabe et al. (2020) [49] Ghana Quantitative Participation in cocoa value chain activities is influenced by access to land, participation in training programmes in cocoa production, membership of the Next Generation Cocoa Youth Programme (MASO), access to agricultural credit, and other demographic characteristics. Lachaud et al. (2018) [90] Zimbabwe Quantitative The findings show that between 2011 and 2014, the TREE programme raised recipients’ income by an average of $787 and their child and health spending by an average of $236 and $101, respectively, compared to nonbeneficiaries. Twumasi et al. (2020) [65] Ghana Quantitative Farmers with limited access to credit were more likely to experience a lengthy loan application process and disbursement period and reduced passion for their agricultural endeavors. There was an inverse relationship between credit constraints and levels of education, age, savings, and parental profession. Rogito et al. (2020) [58] Kenya Quantitative Access to agriculture financing in Kakamega County represents a significant barrier, exacerbated by the need for greater participation of youth in the agricultural value chain. This lack of financial services has a negative effect on the entire value chain, excluding the final consumer. Mmbengwa et al. (2021) [66] South Africa Mixed method According to the findings, tenacity, personal drive, innovation, and a good attitude are essential for young entrepreneurs to achieve success. Capacity development centered on technical skills is needed to promote efficient and successful entrepreneurship. Furthermore, adolescents need enough resources and exposure to commercial agricultural activities. Magagula et al. (2020) [25] South Africa Quantitative The study revealed that the youth had a favorable impression of the agricultural sector as an economic opportunity. The combination of this optimism with extensive agricultural instruction in secondary schools and substantial financial assistance has increased the number of people considering or actively engaged in agribusiness. Cheteni, (2016) [62] South Africa Quantitative The results show that the variables youth programmes, programme availability, and resources were statistically significant in explaining the factors that affect youth participation in agricultural activities. Giuliani et al. (2017) [26] Morroco Mixed Method The findings show that young people in rural areas want to work in agriculture, but that more infrastructure investment is needed to prevent them from leaving. Maintaining a rural lifestyle requires prioritizing expanded opportunities for learning and education. Yami et al. (2019) [6] Undefined Review The interventions adopted by African governments and development partners have effectively increased youth participation in agriculture through capacity building, financial assistance, and mentoring. Bonnke et al. (2022) [82] DRC Quantitative The findings show that tomato producers need more access to agricultural credit, with informal sources providing the most cash-based credit. Lack of information, fear of credit default, and the absence of microfinance institutions are the top three obstacles to access. Access to agricultural credit is dependent on total household income, gender, and participation in a cooperative of tomato producers. Ephrem et al. (2021) [50] DRC Quantitative Empirical evidence suggests that the degree of endorsement and respect youth receive from their locality was significantly associated with their involvement in agricultural pursuits. Furthermore, it has been discovered that the psychological capital that individuals possess in their youth plays a key role in shaping their aspirations towards agribusiness. Mdege et al. (2022) [56] Uganda Qualitative The larger community/national environment, individual circumstances, and individual and collective agencies influence the participation of rural youth in sweet potato farming and agribusiness. Strategies to increase young people’s engagement in the agricultural value chain should consider their intersectional identities and address concerns at the national and neighborhood levels. Akrong et al. (2020) [55] Ghana Quantitative The findings of the econometric model suggest that the demographic characteristics of young people exhibit a higher propensity to engage in agricultural activities due to their younger age, educational attainment, and access to credit and extension services. Retired farmers who obtained loans and automobiles also engaged more with high-value marketplaces. Jolex and Tufa (2022) [71] Malawi Quantitative The results show that profitability increases with the number of ICT tools used to receive and send relevant information to agribusinesses. Ikuemonisan et al. (2022) [51] Nigeria Quantitative Most of the students in the study were below the poverty line, and only 27% were interested in a future in agriculture. However, agribusiness was chosen mainly because of how they felt about their school, its learning environment, the quality of its teachers, and the accessibility of its courses. Ikuemonisan et al. (2022) [91] Nigeria Quantitative The study found that entrepreneurial traits significantly influenced youth’s willingness to take advantage of agribusiness opportunities once an individual’s entrepreneurial intention moderated each trait. Fani et al. (2021) [27] Cameroon Quantitative Young women entrepreneurs in agriculture are competitive and have substantial opportunities but should be encouraged to earn greater credit for purchasing improved seed types and agrochemicals. Henning et al. (2022) [33] South Africa Quantitative The study has revealed that the selection of a career in agriculture is little in the aspirations of the youth. However, it is imperative to encourage young people to participate in agriculture by providing them with educational and experiential opportunities. Regrettably, the absence of grants and the predominant notion of agriculture as an unexplored territory impede the participation of youth. Lindsjö et al. 2021 [83] Malawi Quantitative According to our findings, the younger generation has less access to land than the older generations, and the maize yields remained poor between 2008 and 2017. This implies that the potential for sustainable agricultural intensification is still low unless land access and financial assistance for young people are prioritized. Sumberg et al. (2017) [59] Ghana Qualitative These findings highlight the need for a more customized approach to policy and programming that addresses rural employment, as they show that young people have a negative attitude toward farming due to various views and understandings. Sumberg et al. (2012) [92] Ghana Qualitative More data and research must be needed to inform policy responses concerning young people and agriculture in Africa. To combat this, researchers must examine the shifting landscape of job openings in the agricultural and agri-food industries for young people. Okello et al. (2020) [72] Tanzania Quantitative Research discovered that ICT instruments (mobile phones, television, and radio) are interconnected, and factors such as extension contacts, energy installation, buyer confidence, market knowledge, and receiving remittances all influence. Inegbedion and Islam (2020) [52] Nigeria Quantitative According to the results, the most crucial factor was found to be regulation, which boosted motivation to develop an entrepreneurial mindset, learn about new inventions, and start a business after college. Osabohien et al. (2021) [2] Nigeria Quantitative The findings indicated that gender and the determination to remain in agriculture increase the likelihood that young people will engage in agriculture as a primary occupation, contributing to household income per capita and reducing poverty by 17%. Bezu and Holden, (2014) [60] Ethiopia Quantitative According to the findings, the dramatic increase in youth emigration over the last six years may be directly attributed to rural southern young people’s lack of access to agricultural land. Our econometric modeling showed that young people need more access to land to pursue farming. Bouichou et al. (2021) [53] Ghana Quantitative The youth in our sample who came from cocoa farming households expressed gratitude for the educational opportunities their family had provided. Farm ownership was seen favorably, and the varied experiences of farmers affected their long-term goals and current approaches. Anyidoho et al. (2012) [32] Morocco Qualitative Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that sociodemographic factors, individual perspectives, prior experience, and cooperative behaviors were statistically significant. The findings also imply that the risks and financial restrictions of agribusiness have a negative effect on the entrepreneurial inclinations of youth and women in agricultural cooperatives. Larue et al. (2021) [57] Kenya Mixed Method The results show that the youth had limited interest in agriculture. This image changes when they cannot choose between mutually exclusive farming options and other livelihood goals. Swarts and Aliber (2013) [84] South Africa Qualitative According to empirical studies, the proclivity of young people towards agriculture is contingent upon the availability of the requisite resources to facilitate their active participation in the field. This suggests that the pursuit of monetary benefits has considerable influence over their actions. Irungu et al. (2015) [19] Kenya Qualitative The use of ICTs in agriculture has broadened opportunities and encouraged young people to work in profitable agriculture. ICT tools should be easy and inexpensive, the material should be valued, cherished, localised, and reliable, and the usage of YouTube, Twitter, and WhatsApp should be increased and widely popularized. Badiru and Akande (2019) [79] Nigeria Quantitative Most of the respondents that had interacted with the records were aware of their agricultural content and remembered it. More (54.9%) had an unfavorable opinion of their mobilization potential and needed more credit facilities. Uduji et al. (2021) [78] Nigeria Quantitative The result of using a bivariate probit model showed that GESS significantly affects the innovations of rural youth in agriculture. Uduji et al. (2021) [80] Nigeria Quantitative The findings of the combined propensity score matching and logit model suggested that the GMoU model has a considerable influence on the growth of informal farm entrepreneurship in general, but it has a negative impact on young rural people in the targeted agricultural clusters. Olanrewaju et al. (2020) [81] Nigeria Quantitative The study results showed that marital status, education, access to credit, and membership in cooperative associations were significant determinants of participation in ABP among young rice farmers. Mpetile et al. (2021) [73] South Africa Qualitative Analyzing the life experiences of aspiring Black farmers as business owners revealed the importance of factors such as personal influences, the role of community, the desire for political power through economic stability, and the impact of socioeconomic factors on the decision to enter the agricultural career path. Marwa and Manda (2022) [77] Tanzania Quantitative Depending on socioeconomic and institutional factors, such as access to extension services, contract farming increased French bean yields and earnings by 17%, 34%, or 37.5%, respectively. Kaki et al., (2022) [54] Benin Quantitative The significant factors influencing agricultural students’ entrepreneurial intention in agribusiness were age, major field of study, type of university attended, previous experience in agribusiness, a role model as a friend, and belief in the agribusiness environment. Yeboah et al. (2019) [74] Undefined Qualitative Family and social ties are essential for young entrepreneurs to access resources such as land, capital, and input. The accumulation of housing, furniture, and savings by young people reflects the dynamism of rural economies, the facilitation of social relations, and hard labor. However, it is difficult to remain afloat due to obstacles and risks. Kidido et al. (2017) [67] Ghana Quantitative Empirical evidence has shown that various demand- and supply side determinants, including exorbitant land prices and rivalry from residential developers, impede the youth’s entry to farming land in rural and peri-urban regions. Further academic research and widespread knowledge dissemination are imperative to address this issue.