On International Youth Day, CIMMYT captures images of sub-Saharan African youth to celebrate their immense contributions to agriculture, farming systems, service provision and research and development.

By Joshua Masinde, Shiela Chikulo and Simret Yasabu

CIMMYT - August 17, 2020

The theme for International Youth Day 2020, Youth Engagement for Global Action, highlights the various ways in which the engagement of young people at local, national and global levels enriches national and multilateral institutions and processes.

Up to 60% of Africa’s youth face challenges such as limited employment opportunities, financial constraints to access land and adequate technical equipment. However, agriculture is increasingly providing options. Through it, young people are participating and leveraging on new technologies that can optimize farming systems and create employment.

This photo essay depicts youth in on-farm and off-farm activities across East and Southern Africa. These young men and women are innovators and adopters of improved technologies such as small scale mechanization, appropriate farming practices, employment opportunities and research innovations implemented by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT).

See https://www.cimmyt.org/news/the-future-of-agriculture-in-sub-saharan-africa/

Figure: In Embu County. Kenya. 25-year old Jackeline Wanja stands in a demonstration plot of high-yielding, drought-resilient and fast-maturing maize varieties (photo: Joshua Masinde, CIMMYT)