Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems Report
Kartavya Desk Staff
Context: The FAO released the “Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems” report highlighting that empowering youth in agriculture can boost global GDP by 1.4% and tackle rising unemployment and food insecurity.
About Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems Report:
• Youth Employment Decline in Agriculture: Share of working youth in agrifood systems fell from 54% (2005) to 44%, despite high dependence in low-income countries.
• Rising NEET Youth: Over 20% of global youth (aged 15–24) are not in employment, education, or training; women are twice as likely to be affected.
• Massive GDP Potential: Eliminating youth NEET status, especially among 20–24-year-olds, could raise global GDP by 1.4% (~$1.5 trillion) — nearly 45% of it via agrifood systems.
• Urban-Rural Divide: 54% of youth now live in urban areas; rural youth form only 5% in industrial agrifood systems — signalling future labour shortages in agriculture.
• Vulnerability to Climate Change: Around 395 million rural youth live in areas likely to face declining agricultural productivity due to extreme weather and climate stress.
• Food Insecurity Rising Among Youth: Global food insecurity among youth has increased from 16.7% to 24.4% (2014–2023), especially in Africa and crisis-affected regions.
Key Measures Recommended by FAO:
• Inquire More: Bridge data gaps in youth participation in agrifood systems. Generate stronger evidence for youth-inclusive policies.
• Bridge data gaps in youth participation in agrifood systems.
• Generate stronger evidence for youth-inclusive policies.
• Include More: Amplify youth voices in policy-making. Encourage inclusive decision-making for rural and urban youth.
• Amplify youth voices in policy-making.
• Encourage inclusive decision-making for rural and urban youth.
• Invest More: Create Decent Jobs: Support on- and off-farm employment. Modernize Agrifood Systems: Invest in infrastructure, innovation, and value chains. Access to Resources: Improve youth access to land, finance, training, markets, and digital tools. Promote Orderly Migration: Create safer and legal migration routes for youth in agriculture.
• Create Decent Jobs: Support on- and off-farm employment.
• Modernize Agrifood Systems: Invest in infrastructure, innovation, and value chains.
• Access to Resources: Improve youth access to land, finance, training, markets, and digital tools.
• Promote Orderly Migration: Create safer and legal migration routes for youth in agriculture.
Relevance in UPSC Examination Syllabus:
• GS Paper III – Agriculture: Role of agriculture in employment generation Agrifood value chains and structural transformation Youth in rural economy and sustainable development
• Role of agriculture in employment generation
• Agrifood value chains and structural transformation
• Youth in rural economy and sustainable development
• GS Paper II – Governance & Social Justice: Policy interventions for vulnerable sections NEET youth and education-employment reforms
• Policy interventions for vulnerable sections
• NEET youth and education-employment reforms