Category: Blog

Deep in the interior of Kano, Nigeria, a tractor rumbles through a field that, just a few years ago, would have been tilled by hand. 

The machine, however, is not owned by the landowner. Instead, it was hired through Hello Tractor, a mobile app that links tractor owners with smallholder farmers in need. For farmers, the service means crops are planted on time, and for the owners, it means income from a machine that might otherwise sit idle.

This innovation is particularly significant in Nigeria, where mechanisation levels remain among the lowest in Africa. The country has just 5–7 tractors for every 10,000 hectares of land, far below the FAO’s recommended levels. With about 80 million hectares of arable land, less than half of which is cultivated, this gap in tractor availability severely limits productivity. Hello Tractor helps bridge that gap by making existing machinery more accessible and efficient.

Scenes like this, where technology is linking farmers to services they would previously struggle to access, are becoming commonplace across Africa. In Kenya, eGranary, a mobile-based platform, gives farmers direct access to buyers, inputs, and even credit. Instead of relying on middlemen who take the lion’s share of profits, farmers can now see transparent prices and negotiate on fairer terms. As a result, what begins with a farmer’s phone leads to higher incomes and stronger bargaining power for rural communities.

Meanwhile, precision farming tools are beginning to change the reality of agriculture being at the mercy of weather and soil. With satellite data and localised weather forecasts delivered via SMS, farmers can now make more informed choices about when to plant or which fertiliser to apply. In regions where a single missed rainfall can determine the fate of a season, such insights mean survival.

These advancements illustrate how technology is steadily reshaping the agricultural value chain, from the way food is grown to how it is traded and consumed. Yet the challenge remains: ensuring innovation reaches the millions of smallholder farmers who sustain Africa’s food systems.

That challenge was front and center at the 2025 Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar, Senegal, where policymakers, businesses, and farmer organisations gathered to take stock of the continent’s progress. Among the strongest revelations was that while digital tools are expanding rapidly, uptake among women and youth remains uneven, creating a new kind of digital divide that risks entrenching inequality. At the same time, delegates celebrated how farmer-led innovations, including youth-led input delivery startups, are proving that when given the right support, African solutions can outpace imported models.

The forum also underscored that technology alone cannot deliver transformation without investment in infrastructure and trust. Roads, storage, and reliable electricity were repeatedly cited as the missing links between farm-level innovation and real market impact. 

Another outcome was a renewed commitment by governments to harmonise policies on digital agriculture, aiming to cut down barriers that prevent tools from scaling across borders. Perhaps most striking was the consensus that Africa’s food future will hinge less on isolated success stories and more on building ecosystems where science, finance, and farmer knowledge converge.

It is in this regard that global and regional partners showcased their contribution in bridging the gap between science and practice. Companies like Yara and OCP Africa, for instance, are developing soil-specific fertilisers that deliver precise nutrients while avoiding waste. At the same time, they are investing in farmer training and digital advisory tools to make sure knowledge translates into real results in the field.

The ultimate task now, as the Dakar forum concluded, is to ensure that progress does not stop at the edge of the village, but penetrates within, so that smallholders are not just passive recipients of technology, but active architects of a modernized African agriculture.

Africa contributes barely 4 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet its farmers are paying the steepest price as rising heat and erratic rains continue to erode their agricultural endeavours. According to the World Bank, climate change could shrink Africa’s crop yields by up to 20 percent by 2050. Such declines imply worsening food security for the continent’s 1.4 billion people, 20% of whom currently face starvation.

Against such odds, the continent is now left with two choices: to invest in resilience now, or to watch as livelihoods and ecosystems collapse. It’s clear that, the continent, which depends on agriculture for most of its sustenance, must select the first choice.

On this path, climate-smart agriculture, an approach that increases productivity while lowering emissions and building resilience, offers one way forward. This was mentioned at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2025 in Dakar, Senegal, held under the theme “Africa’s Youth: Leading Collaboration, Innovation and Implementation of Agri-Food Systems Transformation.” Multiple success stories were cited to back this approach. For example, in Kenya, farmers who adopted drought-tolerant maize varieties reported yielded 20 to 30 percent higher than neighbours who planted conventional seed. Similarly, in Niger, simple soil and water conservation practices have helped restore more than 5 million hectares of degraded land. This shows that practical solutions not only exist but can also be scaled when backed by political will and financial commitment.

Yet resilience is not just about restoring land but also protecting communities when shocks strike. This is where initiatives like the African Risk Capacity (ARC) come in. The ARC pools risk across countries, providing insurance that delivers rapid payouts after disasters. In 2022 alone, for example, it disbursed $14.2 million to drought-stricken Malawi, enabling food and cash transfers for more than two million people. For many families, these kinds of safety nets can be the difference between recovery and destitution.

Research is another pillar of transformation, and CGIAR’s Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security program serves as an ideal link, working with governments to integrate climate resilience into food policies. Notable efforts include breeding heat-tolerant rice in West Africa and modeling water management strategies in the Nile Basin.

However, even as such scientific advancements continue to be documented, the gap between knowledge and implementation often remains wide. Bridging that divide calls for institutions that can translate evidence into action on the ground. One such partner is the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), which has embedded climate risk management across its portfolio. In Burkina Faso, for instance, the organisation is rolling out a new project designed to strengthen smallholder resilience. Similarly, the IKEA Foundation is investing in off-grid renewable energy for agriculture, advancing an integrated model that links energy, food, and livelihoods. This is as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) helps African countries to align their national plans with sustainable land and water use, ensuring ecosystems remain intact even as yields rise.

Such engagements confirm that Africa does not lack ideas, technologies, or partnerships but scale. The challenge ahead is to expand and multiply these efforts so that the continent’s farmers can remain resilient in the face of worsening climatic odds.

Steven Were Omamo, Director, Development Strategies and Governance; Director for Africa, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Over 60% of Africa’s people are under 25. By 2035, more young Africans will join the workforce each year than in the rest of the world combined, underscoring the urgency of the 2025 African Food Systems Forum (AFS Forum) theme: “Africa’s Youth: Leading Collaboration, Innovation, and Implementation of Agri-Food Systems Transformation.”

The spotlight on youth was clear from the outset. Presidents Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal and Paul Kagame of Rwanda engaged in substantive dialogue with young agrifood entrepreneurs from across the Continent.  Their energy was sustained through to a jubilant award ceremony celebrating the “Go-Gettaz” along with other prizes honoring young Africans.

Youth at the Center of Food Systems Transformation

This year’s Africa Food Systems Report (AFSR), produced by AGRA, saw youth playing a key role. For the first time, the report expanded its focus beyond just agriculture to a broader food systems view, stressing that food systems transformation must be driven by and for youth. For young Africans, the report confirms that their role extends far beyond being recipients; they are essential players, farmers, agripreneurs, processors, innovators, and policymakers, whose leadership will decide whether Africa moves past fragmented gains, toward meaningful and systemic change.

Equally encouraging was the signing of the Global Future Foods Memorandum of Understanding between AFS Forum and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which will open new markets for African youth innovators. The Gates Foundation and the World Bank co-authored a white paper on digital public infrastructure for agriculture, emphasizing youth-led tech solutions — another commendable step from two heavyweights in ‘action over rhetoric’.

To sustain momentum, the energy around youth at AFS Forum must translate into concrete initiatives and policies that tackle the opportunities and significant challenges of the African youth bulge.  I was therefore encouraged by the launch of a $6.7 million Food Trade Corridors Partnership by the African Union, AGRA, and the UK, which will boost intra-African trade and support youth-led agribusiness.

Policy Pathways: From AFS Forum to CAADP

Leaders frequently referenced the third phase of CAADP (2026–2035), which the Kampala Declaration initiated. This forward-looking blueprint guides African policymakers in transforming the continent’s agrifood systems in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063. It represents a significant evolution from earlier frameworks by embedding equity, empowerment, and accountability as central principles. The numerous references to the Kampala Declaration at AFS Forum show how seriously decision-makers take it.

The CAADP Kampala Declaration calls for a shift in perspective: youth should be recognized as active co-creators of policy and innovation. It advocates for at least 30% youth representation in agrifood value chains and governance platforms. The third phase of CAADP also aims to promote inclusive financing models, land access reform, and youth-focused investment platforms, while emphasizing technical and vocational education (TVET), digital literacy, and entrepreneurship training. Youth-led agritech, climate-smart agriculture, and data-driven policy engagement are highlighted, all with youth at the core.

I, like many others, strongly support the CAADP framework, whose goals clearly align with CGIAR’s, and its concrete results drive credibility: since its inception in 2003,  CAADP has significantly increased public investments in agriculture, and improved coordination and accountability through a Biennial Review, leaders introduced in 2017 to track progress, compare country performance, and embed a culture of evidence-based and success-driven policymaking.  Nevertheless, while many countries adopted CAADP-aligned plans, weak institutions, funding gaps, and instability slow implementation. I believe these challenges can be addressed through collaborative action, and their resolution promises an even stronger framework.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Despite progress, there are significant challenges to overcome. With a staggering 26% of African youth currently classified as “Not in Employment, Education or Training” (NEET) and considering recent major youth protests across several African countries, the urgency to advance CAADP’s youth-related ambitions is clear. The responsibility falls on national governments, especially as Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) decreases, and calls mount for African governments to increase their own budget allocations for food systems transformation.

National governments must prioritize implementing, or ‘domesticating,’ the Kampala Declaration. To create real opportunities for Africa’s youth, we need to pay attention to the fundamentals of policymaking and investment prioritization. Governments must integrate youth priorities into National Agrifood Systems Investment Plans (NASIPs). National budgets, rather than declarations, reflect a government’s true priorities.

Concrete steps include providing youth entrepreneurs with faster, affordable business and intellectual property registrations; access to patient capital, mentorship, and peer learning platforms; investments in digital infrastructure and agritech; improved rural connectivity and digital literacy; and expanded vocational training. Equally important is better communication about the CAADP agenda to excite and engage more stakeholders, and developing clearer indicators, so policymakers can ensure accountability, measure progress, and increase transparency.

AFS Forum 2025 brought together ministers, financiers, entrepreneurs, experts, and civil society leaders to elevate African youth. The responsibility now lies with policymakers to sustain commitments, and with youth to seize the opportunities ahead. Those of us in development, research, and innovation stand ready to support them.

By Deogratius Magero, Youth Engagement Manager, CABI

Young people in agriculture are transforming the future of food systems and advancing cooperation through technology and partnerships. Across the globe, young people are strengthening food value chains by embracing innovation and collaborating widely across borders.

In Africa, young people are becoming the dynamic engine of agriculture. The World Economic Forum reports that the sector employs more than 50% of the continent’s workforce, and over 60% of Africa’s population is under the age of 25. A tremendous opportunity, therefore, exists to harness the energy and entrepreneurship of young people. From biological control and pest management, promotion of digital advisory tools to pesticide risk reduction and spray service provision, they have the potential to revolutionise food systems in Africa.

This blog explores how young people in agriculture are becoming powerful agents of change. Together, using technology and partnerships, they are paving the way to better farming systems. In turn, their approaches are supporting the realization of important global goals, including climate adaptation, economic growth, and food security.

Driving change through agricultural technology

Young people in Africa are driving innovations in farming. Quick to adopt new tools, many see technology not only as a means of improving food security, but also as a way to build thriving businesses. With access to training initiatives, young people in agriculture are adopting and implementing new, sustainable food systems and ways of growing and selling produce. The results are improving the lives of those trained, their peers as well as others in their larger farmer communities.

The benefits of biocontrol

Take biological control (biocontrol), for example. In Zambia, biocontrol training has helped young people to manage the spread of fall armyworm while improving food safety and security. Climate change has worsened the spread of crop pests and invasive species. Fall armyworm, for example, affects nearly 98% of smallholder maize farmers in Zambia. As a result, the country faces estimated losses of US $159 million each season. Women and poorer farmers are hardest hit.

To address this, in 2023, CABI launched a three-year project with ACIAR, the Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI), and the University of Zambia. The initiative trained young people aged 18-35 in agribusiness. They learned to produce and apply biocontrol products like Fawligen and Metarhizium rileyi – innovative new technologies that offer eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides. Specifically, these products help farmers to control the spread of fall armyworm more sustainably, increasing yields and protecting biodiversity.

Biocontrol is a critical part of building sustainable food systems. It reduces reliance on harmful chemicals, protecting beneficial insects and increasing yields. From farm to fork, it supports safer food production for smallholders and consumers alike.

In July 2024, 20 young people (12 women and 8 men) started training across four districts. In addition to training in agribusiness, the youths shared their skills and training with over 80 peers. Together, they formed four youth cooperatives with over 100 youth members across the four districts and set up local spray services, exploring new sources of income and benefitting around 3,000 farmers in their communities. To scale up the impact of this initiative, 45 young people from the four cooperatives have been trained as trainers in agribusiness in partnership with the University of Zambia, Zambia Agricultural Research Institute and CABI. These young trainers will now work to educate an additional 1,500 farmers on the shift from traditional farming to a more strategic agribusiness approach. Additionally, representatives from the youth cooperatives received training focused on using their cooperatives as tools for generating income. This equips them with the knowledge to leverage the cooperative structure for economic benefit, further enhancing the project’s impact beyond the direct training of individual farmers.

This novel initiative is driving tangible change by empowering youth to lead agribusiness ventures and promote sustainable pest management.

Creating impact at scale through partnerships

Across regions, young people are working in partnership to build successful agribusinesses. By collaborating with local businesses, cooperatives, and development organizations, they are scaling up their efforts and creating a lasting impact. These collaborations are not only boosting youth employment but also strengthening food systems and driving innovation in sustainable agriculture.

Collaboration for sustainable solutions

The PlantwisePlus youth empowerment work is driving a transformative movement of young people in Kenya and Uganda. Here, youths and local agricultural cooperatives are co-creating and spearheading modern agribusiness. In collaboration with a range of partners, CABI trains young people in food production, value chain development and agricultural service provision through the programme. New skills are developed in technical areas such as integrated pest management, orchard management, and spray service provision in addition to business and financial literacy.

Partnership is a central element of effective food systems because they rely on so many interconnected factors. No single actor can solve challenges within food systems alone. From food production to distribution, these systems rely on diverse expertise and knowledge.

Collaborative models like PlantwisePlus are unlocking scalable pathways to sustainable agricultural growth. The programme plays a strategic role by connecting key actors and equipping young people with the tools, skills, and platforms they need to build successful agribusinesses. Through practical training, mentorship, and support from cooperatives and exporters, the initiative empowers youths to lead innovation, strengthen value chains, and contribute to more resilient food systems.

The initiative has gone from strength to strength, boosting business growth and incomes among trainees in Kenya and Uganda. The young service providers who participated now earn up to $115/month in Kenya and $56/month in Uganda. In addition, access to loans has increased their agribusiness ventures. Trained youths are now mentoring peers, up to 4-6 mentees each and some have established agro-shops independently. Moreover, cooperatives have reported increased food production, memberships and market access.

Furthermore, the initiative has had a ripple effect throughout the community, seeing more farmers become active again. Knowledge is being shared informally through community networks, further strengthening local food systems and showing the power of partnership.

Pathways to boost young people’s employment in agriculture

Scalable and sustainable business models across specific pathways can help to drive youth employment, and technology and partnerships form important components of these pathways. These are the findings of a CABI-led review, published in CABI Agriculture and Bioscience in June 2025. The study identified six key routes to employment for young people in agriculture:

1. Agri-dealership
2. Agri-service provision
3. Green entrepreneurship
4. Market facilitation
5. Primary production
6. Value addition

The pathways are characterized by approaches such as certification schemes, collective action, contractual arrangements, and revenue sharing. They help young entrepreneurs overcome challenges that impact food systems such as access to capital and markets.

Technology and partnerships form important parts of these pathways. When it comes to technology, the study argues that digital innovations, for example, allow rapid scaling by expanding value chains into interconnected value networks. Moreover, in relation to partnerships, the study highlights how formal and informal networks are vital for integrating youth into dynamic agricultural value chains. These connections show that youth pathways are not just about employment. They are threads that can be woven throughout food systems to make them stronger and more sustainable.

Investing in young people in agriculture – the future of food security

Young people are a driving force, helping to shape the future of agriculture. Access to training, technology, and partnerships gives a valuable boost to their employment opportunities. Yet, this access also does much more – it strengthens entire food systems and safeguards food security. CABI’s programmes and projects are helping to leverage the opportunity that young people in Africa offer. Their innovation and collective action are addressing urgent challenges such as climate change and pest outbreaks. With continued investment and support, young people in agriculture will remain at the forefront of building a greener, more resilient, and more food-secure future for all.

Le soutien des dirigeants africains, en Janvier 2025, de la Déclaration de Kampala, a transmis le message bien clair : les systèmes alimentaires africains doivent devenir plus résilients, plus inclusifs et plus durables. Les engagements de cette déclaration, qui mettent en priorité la jeunesse, les femmes et les petits agriculteurs, représentent de fortes ambitions. Le vrai défi se trouve maintenant dans la transformation de ses mots en impact concret, durable et significatif.

Les recherches basées sur les preuves seront indispensables pour réussir une telle transformation. En utilisant les approches prouvées, les gouvernements et les institutions pourront suivre les progrès, et combler l’écart entre l’engagement et la mise en œuvre. En plus de valider les mesures prises, les données permettent d’identifier celles qui produisent réellement des résultats, garantissant la responsabilité et veillant à ce qu’aucun groupe ne soit laissé pour compte.

Le TAAT Policy Enabler de la Banque africaine de développement (BAD) en est un bon exemple. Créé pour enlever les obstacles pour la mise en œuvre des innovations agricoles, TAAT travaille en partenariat avec les gouvernements pour transformer et harmoniser les politiques. Ceci accélère l’adoption des technologies et des méthodes qui renforcent la productivité et la résilience à travers la chaîne de valeur agricole. Le projet a accéléré le processus d’enregistrement de variété de semences, a aligné les normes des engrais et a amélioré l’accès au financement, démontrant la vraie possibilité de traduire les politiques stratégiques sur papier, en action. Une telle preuve est importante, car chaque journée perdue à cause des obstacles bureaucratiques reste un jour où les petits agriculteurs manquent l’opportunité d’améliorer leurs récoltes, et donc, leurs revenus. 

Les recherches de CABI sur l’inclusion des femmes et des jeunes dans l’agriculture offrent un deuxième aperçu important. Ce rapport récent présente, en 10 points stratégiques, des leçons acquises à travers le continent pour les législateurs. De la provision d’accès équitable aux terres, à la mise en place des outils numériques pour les services d’extension, et des voies éclairées pour le développement des leaders jeunes et femmes dans les systèmes agroalimentaires, la priorité est désormais la création des politiques inclusives et pratiques. Aujourd’hui, reconnaître simplement l’importance de la jeunesse dans l’avenir des systèmes alimentaires africains ne suffira plus. Une politique efficace agit en créant des récompenses concrètes, des programmes de mentorat et des partenariats qui encouragent nos jeunes à participer à long-terme. De la même façon, il faut que les femmes puissent remplir davantage de rôles décisionnels, que cela soit chez les organisations coopératives, les producteurs ou dans les agro-business en général. 

Un appel aux connaissances partagées

La Déclaration de Kampala représente un engagement collectif pour transformer les systèmes alimentaires en Afrique. Mais il est important que la transformation ne reste pas une idée abstraite, et que nous voyions ces changements dans un meilleur accès aux ressources clés, l’amélioration significative de la productivité durable, et les revenus plus importants pour nos populations agricoles.

Pour cela, les plateformes telles que l’Africa Food Systems Forum (l’AFSF) sont essentielles. Rendre disponibles les recherches telles que celles de TAAT et de CABI nous permet de renforcer nos connaissances et notre compréhension afin de nous rendre responsables. Cependant, il ne faut pas conclure la discussion ainsi ; il faut continuer à produire les exemples, les recherches et les structures qui assureront que cette Déclaration soit un vrai catalyseur du changement. 

Rejoignez-nous à l’AFSF 2025, pour explorer les raisons prouvées de faire avancer les engagements de la Déclaration de Kampala, sous le thème Jeunesse africaine: Fer de lance de la collaboration, de l’innovation et de la transformation des systèmes alimentaires. L’événement, qui se déroule à Dakar, au Sénégal, vise un objectif incontournable – assurer que de tels engagements se transforment en actions concrètes, pour les jeunes, les femmes et les petits agriculteurs de l’Afrique.

When African leaders endorsed the Kampala Declaration in January 2025, they sent out the message that Africa’s food systems must be transformed to be more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable. The commitments contained in the declaration, which are largely focused on youth, women, and smallholder farmers, set an ambitious agenda, but the real challenge lies in translating words into a measurable, lasting impact.

That is where evidence-led research becomes indispensable as it grounds decisions in data, using proven approaches to track progress, enabling governments and institutions to bridge the gap between commitment and implementation. In addition to validating action, evidence creates accountability, while highlighting what works, ensuring that no group is left behind.

The African Development Bank’s TAAT Policy Enabler offers a compelling example. Designed to remove bottlenecks that slow the adoption of agricultural innovations, TAAT works directly with governments to reform and harmonise policies. It has been shown to accelerate the uptake of technologies and practices that can improve productivity and resilience across entire value chains. By speeding up seed variety registration, aligning fertiliser regulations, and improving access to finance, TAAT’s work has shown how strategic policy alignment can move from paper to practice. Such evidence matters because every day lost to bureaucratic delays is a day when smallholder farmers miss out on opportunities to improve yields, income, and food security.

Another critical insight comes from CABI’s research on gender and youth inclusion in agriculture. Their most recent report distils lessons from across Africa into 10 practical focus areas for policymakers. These range from ensuring equitable access to land and finance, to integrating digital tools for extension services, to fostering leadership pathways for young people and women in agri-food systems. The emphasis now remains on designing policies that are both inclusive and actionable. For example, simply acknowledging the importance of youth in agriculture is not enough, policies must create tangible incentives, mentorship programs, and market linkages that encourage their sustained participation. Similarly, women’s involvement must move beyond token representation to genuine decision-making roles in cooperatives, producer organisations, and agribusinesses.

A Call for Shared Knowledge

The Kampala Declaration represents a collective promise to transform Africa’s food systems. But transformation is not an abstract concept, and it must be evidenced in better livelihoods, more equitable access to resources, and measurable improvements in productivity and sustainability. 

This is why platforms like the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) are critical. Surfacing research like TAAT’s policy enabler and CABI’s gender and youth inclusion framework allows us to start building the knowledge base required to hold ourselves accountable. However,the conversation cannot stop here. More examples, research, and practical frameworks are needed to ensure that the Kampala Declaration is a catalyst for real change.

Join us at the AFSF 2025, where we will be exploring multiple evidence bases for advancing the commitments of the Kampala Declaration under the theme, “Africa’s Youth: Leading Collaboration, Innovation, and the Implementation of Agri-Food Systems Transformation”. Convening in Dakar, Senegal, the AFSF 2025 will be out to turn commitments into concrete action for Africa’s farmers, youth, and women. 

-ENDS

Partout au Sénégal, les femmes représentent 70 % de la main-d’œuvre agricole et produisent 80 % de l’alimentation du pays. Pourtant, elles continuent de faire face à de nombreux obstacles pour accéder à la terre, à l’éducation et au financement. À l’échelle mondiale, le potentiel est tout aussi frappant : selon la FAO, si les femmes avaient le même accès aux ressources que les hommes, elles pourraient augmenter les rendements agricoles de 20 à 30 %, réduisant ainsi la faim dans le monde jusqu’à 17 %.

Dans notre dernier blog, Heifer International, une organisation mondiale à but non lucratif qui œuvre pour mettre fin à la faim et à la pauvreté en soutenant les petits exploitants agricoles grâce à des formations, des outils et un meilleur accès aux marchés, raconte l’histoire d’Anta, une jeune Sénégalaise qui transforme l’agriculture avec courage, innovation et une vision audacieuse de l’avenir.

Nous explorerons comment repenser nos systèmes alimentaires pour les rendre plus inclusifs envers les femmes et les jeunes lors du Sommet 2025 du Africa Food Systems Forum.

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Le soleil de midi tape sur le champ d’Anta Sarr à Ngounjane, dans la paisible région de Thiès au Sénégal, mais elle reste impassible, une aubergine fraîchement cueillie à la main – symbole de résilience, d’innovation et d’espoir. À seulement 23 ans, Anta représente une nouvelle génération d’entrepreneurs agricoles qui remettent en question tout ce que sa communauté pensait savoir sur l’agriculture et le potentiel des femmes.

Nous avançons parce que nous avons des compétences, de la passion et la conviction de notre potentiel, dit-elle, ses yeux balayant les rangées verdoyantes de légumes. C’est bien loin du chemin que choisissent la plupart des jeunes de sa région – nombreux sont ceux qui partent, considérant l’agriculture comme une profession sans avenir. Mais Anta et ses quatre compagnes agricultrices voient autre chose : une révolution en devenir.

Leur parcours a commencé avec 21 jeunes agriculteurs – garçons et filles, animés par le rêve de transformer leur vie. Progressivement, le groupe s’est réduit. Les garçons sont partis, découragés par les défis. Mais les femmes sont restées, formant une association qu’elles ont nommée TAKKU LIGUÈYE – travailler ensemble pour construire la communauté.

Issues de familles vulnérables, Anta et ses collègues – Fatou et Nogaye – ont refusé d’être définies par leurs circonstances. Après une formation initiale à Dakar, leur directeur de formation leur a prêté un champ de deux hectares – une planche de salut qui allait devenir leur toile de transformation.

L’agriculture sans modernisation est une agriculture sans profit, déclare Anta avec passion. Cette philosophie les a amenées à adopter des technologies que beaucoup dans leur communauté considèrent avec scepticisme. Un système d’irrigation goutte à goutte alimenté par énergie solaire arrose désormais leurs cultures – un petit miracle dans une région où le travail manuel a toujours été la seule option.

Ce bond technologique n’était pas seulement une question d’efficacité. Pour ces jeunes femmes, c’était aussi une question de dignité. C’est trop difficile de manipuler des arrosoirs manuels, explique Anta. Ces méthodes sont archaïques. Nous voulons montrer que l’agriculture peut être intelligente, rentable et émancipatrice.

Leur champ raconte une histoire d’innovation. Des aubergines de différentes tailles pendent aux plantes verdoyantes, témoignage de leur savoir-faire et de leur détermination. Elles ont cultivé non seulement des légumes, mais aussi une vision de ce qui est possible quand on donne aux jeunes femmes des ressources et du soutien.

Heifer International et la coopérative ARLS sont devenus des partenaires essentiels de leur parcours. À travers leur projet de Services Climatiques pour une Résilience et une Productivité Améliorées (CSRP), ils ont fourni à Anta et ses camarades non seulement des semences et de l’équipement, mais quelque chose de plus précieux – la croyance en leur potentiel. La supervision technique d’experts agricoles comme Aissata Ka et Lamine Sow leur a donné la confiance de rêver plus grand.

Au-delà de soi; émanciper la communauté

Le défi AYuTe Afrique, un concours annuel de Heifer International qui attribue des subventions en espèces et du mentorat aux jeunes innovateurs créant un impact significatif pour les petits agriculteurs, est devenu une autre source d’inspiration pour Anta et les autres. Il les a encouragées à se voir non plus seulement comme des agricultrices, mais comme des entrepreneures, des innovatrices et des agents de changement.

Leur objectif immédiat est pratique : économiser des bénéfices pour acheter leur propre terre et leur propre équipement. Mais leur vision est plus large et transformatrice. « Nous voulons aider nos parents, notre communauté, dit Anta. Nous voulons montrer que les jeunes femmes peuvent être autonomes, créer des opportunités là où d’autres ne voient que des limitations.

Les défis restent importants. L’accès au financement, aux équipements modernes et à la terre sont encore des obstacles majeurs, surtout pour les jeunes femmes. Mais Anta voit ces défis comme des obstacles à surmonter, et non comme des barrières.

Il y a de l’espoir, dit-elle, un sourire illuminant son visage alors qu’elle observe son champ. Chaque aubergine, chaque poivron, chaque innovation est une déclaration – sur les capacités des femmes, sur le potentiel de l’agriculture, sur la réinvention du développement à partir de ses racines.

À Ngounjane, et de plus en plus à travers le Sénégal, les jeunes femmes comme Anta plantent plus que des cultures. Elles plantent un avenir où la technologie, la passion et la détermination peuvent faire pousser n’importe quoi – même des opportunités.

Alors que le soleil commence à se coucher sur son champ, Anta Sarr se tient droite – non pas seulement comme une agricultrice, mais comme un phare d’espoir pour les jeunes, en particulier les femmes, au Sénégal.

Across Senegal, women make up 70% of the agricultural workforce and produce 80% of the nation’s food, yet they continue to face major barriers to land, education, and finance. Globally, the potential is just as stark: FAO estimates that if women had the same access to resources as men, they could boost farm yields by 20–30%, cutting global hunger by up to 17%.

In our latest blog, Heifer International, a global nonprofit working to end hunger and poverty by supporting smallholder farmers with training, tools, and market access, shares the story of Anta, a young Senegalese woman who is transforming agriculture with grit, innovation, and a bold vision for the future.

We’ll be exploring how to reshape our food systems to be more inclusive of women and youth at this year’s Africa Food Systems Forum Summit 2025.

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The midday sun beats down on Anta Sarr’s field in Ngounjane, in the sleepy Thiès region of Senegal. She stands unfazed, a freshly picked eggplant in her hand – a symbol of resilience, innovation, and hope. At just 23, Anta represents a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs challenging everything her community thought they knew about farming and women’s potential.

“We move forward because we have skills, passion, and a belief in our potential,” she says, her eyes scanning the abundant rows of vegetables. It’s a far cry from the path most young people in her region choose – many opt to leave, seeing agriculture as a dead-end profession. But Anta and her four fellow female farmers see something different: a revolution waiting to happen.

Their journey began with 21 young farmers – boys and girls with dreams of transforming their lives. Slowly, the group dwindled. The boys left, discouraged by the challenges. But the women stayed, forming an association they named TAKKU LIGUÈYE – “working together to build the community.”

Coming from vulnerable families, Anta and her colleagues – Fatou and Nogaye – refused to be defined by their circumstances. After initial training in Dakar, they were loaned a two-hectare field by their training director – a lifeline that would become their canvas of transformation.

“Agriculture without modernisation is agriculture without profit,” Anta declares passionately. This philosophy led them to embrace technology that many in their community view with scepticism. A solar-powered drip irrigation system now waters their crops – a small miracle in a region where manual labour has long been the only option.

The technological leap wasn’t just about efficiency. For these young women, it was also about dignity. “It’s too hard to operate hand-held watering cans,” Anta explains. “Those methods are archaic. We want to show that agriculture can be smart, profitable, and empowering.”

Their field tells a story of innovation. Eggplants of various sizes hang from flourishing plants, a testament to their skill and determination. They’ve cultivated not just vegetables, but a vision of what’s possible when young women are given resources and support.

Heifer International and the ARLS cooperative became crucial partners in their journey. Through their Climate Services for improved Resilience and Productivity (CSRP) project, they provided Anta and her mates not just seeds and equipment, but something more valuable; belief in their potential. Technical supervision from agricultural experts like Aissata Ka and Lamine Sow gave them the confidence to dream bigger.

Beyond self; empowering community

The AYuTe Africa Challenge, an annual competition by Heifer International that awards cash grants and mentorship to young innovators creating meaningful impact for smallholder farmers, became another source of inspiration for Anta and others. It encouraged them to begin to see themselves as more than just farmers – but as entrepreneurs, innovators, and changemakers.

Their immediate goal is practical: save profits to buy their own land and equipment. But their broader vision is transformative. “We want to help our parents, our community,” Anta says. “We want to show that young women can be self-sufficient and can create opportunity where others see only limitation.”

The challenges remain significant. Access to finance, modern equipment, and land are still major hurdles, especially for young women. But Anta sees these as challenges to overcome, not barriers to stop her.

“There is room for hope,” she says, a smile breaking across her face as she looks over her field. Each eggplant, each pepper, each innovation is a statement – about women’s capabilities, about agriculture’s potential, about reimagining development from the ground up.

In Ngounjane, and increasingly across Senegal, young women like Anta are planting more than just crops. They’re planting a future where technology, passion, and determination can grow anything – even opportunity.

As the sun begins to set over her field, Anta Sarr stands tall – not just as a farmer, but as a beacon of hope for young people, particularly women, in Senegal.

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