African youth are revolutionizing agriculture, transforming the sector with innovative ideas and capital that works. The African Development Bank Group has invested $669 million in the ENABLE Youth Programme, which spans 18 countries and has created over 237,000 jobs. This initiative, launched in 2016, is a clear demonstration of how Africa’s growing youth population can become a major force for agricultural transformation.
The Empowering Novel Agri-Business-Led Employment (ENABLE) Youth Programme seeks to create 300,000 agribusinesses by empowering young entrepreneurs with both skills and financing. It has already made a significant impact by providing access to capital and support for youth-led enterprises, enabling them to contribute to the agricultural transformation of the continent. The programme emphasizes the importance of turning Africa’s demographic dividend into economic opportunities, particularly by focusing on agriculture, which is the backbone of the continent’s economy.
Smallholder farming plays a crucial role in Africa’s food production, contributing to 80% of the continent’s food supply. However, many farmers, especially women, face challenges in achieving high productivity and sustainability. One of the major barriers they encounter is inadequate access to capital. This is where initiatives like ENABLE Youth come in, as they help overcome financial barriers and empower women in agriculture. By providing financial resources and training, the programme ensures that women can be a driving force in agricultural value chains, contributing to food security and economic development.
A notable example of how the programme has impacted local communities is the success of Faith Timona Mumo, the co-founder and CEO of Iviani Farm Limited in Kenya. Iviani Farm processes fresh fruits and vegetables, such as mangoes, bananas, pineapples, and leafy greens, into long-lasting dried snacks. The business is addressing a critical issue in agriculture: postharvest loss. Mumo explains that fruits and vegetables are highly perishable, and a significant amount is lost during harvest, transport, and marketing. As much as 80% of fresh produce is wasted annually due to poor postharvest practices.
Through the ENABLE Youth loan, Mumo was able to invest in infrastructure that improved her business. She expanded her fish farming operations in arid and semi-arid areas, providing technical support to local farmers on best practices in both aquaculture and postharvest loss reduction. With the loan, she built additional fishponds, installed a solar-powered system, and introduced modern aquaculture systems, which doubled her fingerling production capacity. This investment has not only helped her business but also benefited nearly 5,000 smallholder farmers in Kenya.
Mumo’s story illustrates how agribusinesses, particularly those led by women, can play a key role in Africa’s agricultural transformation. She encourages other women to explore opportunities in agriculture, particularly in sectors like aquaculture, which offer great potential for growth and income generation.
Similarly, Washington Maina, founder of Centro Energy Limited, also benefited from an ENABLE Youth loan. His company, which specializes in aquaculture and energy, used the loan to rehabilitate its fish hatchery. The investment allowed Centro Energy to become an authenticated hatchery with the capacity to produce 120,000 tilapia and 60,000 African catfish fingerlings per month. Maina’s success highlights the scalability of youth-led agribusinesses when provided with the right tools and resources.
The ENABLE Youth Programme is a vital part of the African Development Bank’s broader strategy, which aims to empower youth across the continent. As the bank looks ahead to its Ten-Year Strategy for 2024-2033, it is committed to increasing investments in youth empowerment, recognizing that the future of Africa’s agricultural development lies in the hands of its young people. Through targeted investments in youth-led enterprises and initiatives like ENABLE Youth, the potential to transform Africa’s agriculture sector is limitless, ensuring sustainable growth and food security for generations to come.
