RURAL YOUTH AND THE FUTURE OF FARMING IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: REVISITING THE ABANDONMENT DEBATE

Abstract

Agriculture remains the backbone of most rural economies in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), employing up to 70% of the youth population. Yet, a paradox arises: despite its economic importance, many young people are increasingly distancing themselves from agriculture, perceiving it as a sector linked to poverty, hard labor, and limited financial returns. This disengagement threatens future food security, rural transformation, and job creation across the region. This study explores whether rural youth are truly abandoning agriculture or are instead redefining their involvement through diversified livelihood strategies. It examines the socio-economic, institutional and cultural factors influencing youth decisions and analyzes how emerging hybrid forms of engagement—such as agripreneurship and part-time farming—are reshaping rural economies. A systematic desktop synthesis of peer-reviewed literature (2000–2025) was conducted using databases like Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science. The search focused on keywords such as rural youth, agriculture, migration, livelihood diversification, and agrarian transition. The findings reveal that youth disengagement from agriculture is not uniform but context-specific. Key determinants include land scarcity, education, labour market structures, gender norms, and limited access to finance and technology. While many youth migrate or pursue non-farm work, others engage in innovative agro-enterprises, peri-urban horticulture, and contract farming that integrate farm and non-farm income sources. Youth (dis)engagement reflects structural constraints rather than a wholesale rejection of agriculture. The challenge lies in transforming the sector into a viable, attractive, and profitable livelihood path. Policies should prioritize land access, affordable credit, youth-focused extension, agribusiness incubation, and vocational training aligned with market needs. This study contributes to debates on rural transformation by reframing youth “abandonment” as strategic livelihood diversification within evolving agrarian systems in SSA.