Chapter-3 Rural Youth in Agricultural and Rural
Development
3.1. Who are the rural youth?
• Governmental organizations, NGOs and civic associations in Ethiopia
and other countries adopt and use various age ranges for the concept
"Youth" from the standpoint of the purpose which they stand for and the
activities they undertake.
• For example, the United Nations (UN) defines the youth as persons
between 15-24 years; WHO,10-24; and
• In the case of Ethiopia it is 15-30.
• Experiences of other countries indicate that different age ranges
have been used in defining youth.
• For example, Uganda has used the age ranges 12-30; Mauritius 14-
29;South Africa 14-28;India 15-35; Nigeria18-35;Djibouti 16-30
for defining youth.
• Taking in to consideration the age ranges given from different
directions indicated above this Youth Policy defines youth as to
include part of the society who are between 15-29; years.
• Youth represent a large and growing demographic
group globally.
• The main objective of targeting the youth is show
concern for the future of the youngsters and to keep
them settled so as to minimize migrations to town.
3.2. Common Problems Faced by Rural Youth World-wide
• Burdened with special obligations starting from a very early age,
working for long hours.
• They are faced with landlessness /diminishing farm size/
unemployment. As a result, production is not sufficient for the family and
hence, the prospect of living below poverty level will force most of them to
leave the rural areas and migrate to urban areas
• Lack of motivation: as young people people see the backwardness and
neglect of rural areas, they lose inspiration and often see little hope for
their own future.
• Lack of training: lack of formal education and technical
training.
• Lack of involvement and opportunities: they often feel
isolated and unable to get involved in development activities.
They have no representation and no means of making their
voice heard.
• Usage of drugs and alcohol
• Lack of any coherent youth policy and implementation
3.3. Rural Youth in Extension
• Rural youth can play a significant role in agricultural extension, if
they are properly handled.
• they can act as dynamic force in communities because they
generally have a positive attitude to change.
• The following could be done through them:
Raising demonstration plots and showing to others
Keeping themselves aware with latest agricultural technologies and
adopt all improved agricultural technologies.
Educating other farmers
Acting as link between extension workers and farmers.
Rural Youth Programs/Projects/ Clubs
• Rural youth programs are organized groups of young people, under
the guidance of professional youth leaders/ local volunteer leaders/.
• Young members elect their own officers, plan and conducted
programs and carry out worthwhile activities in the community.
• The most widespread rural youth clubs are the 4H clubs which began
in the US and which have now spread to many countries.
• 4H stands for Head to clear thinking, Hands to larger service,
Heart to greater loyalty, Health to better living
• The youth can implement the following types of
project/clubs:
Educational: socialize and train for future life
special skills like qualities of leadership, management&
technical
Economic: Income generation
Farm & home management
Social: working for the good of the community-military
service
Recreational: Dance and cultural show, sport activities
Purpose /Objectives of Youth Programs
A. Leadership development: rural youth program are generally
nurtured by continuing and voluntary adult leadership in the
community.
• Because the programs are largely self-sustaining, leadership
development becomes both a means and an end.
B. Citizenship development: this can vary from promoting national
and consciousness to community orientation and development.
• Generally, most rural youth programs seek to encourage young
people to become involved in improving their local communities.
C. Personal development: the social interaction that occurs in rural
youth programs (organizations helps to develop social skills
talking in front of groups or working with others, group solidarity).
• Given low status of agricultural life, this dimension is extremely
important for the future.
D. Occupational development: the youth will acquire technical and
management skills in agricultural production/ or other activities.
• The overall effect of the projects is to develop a positive attitude
towards change.
• increasing agricultural production and income. They learn by doing
(seeing is believing).
Elements of successful sustainable rural youth projects
The youth should own the project
Members should do all the work
Members and the community should understand how the
production increases and how income from the project will be
handled
Income from the project should go to the members, to give them
satisfaction from their work.
Keep members interested in the project.
Source of supply for materials needed for each project must be
planned
[Link] Made to Organize the Rural Youth in
Ethiopia
• Agricultural Extension Service:- Extension activities in Ethiopia
began in 1954, where two young graduate of Ambo were selected as
extension agents.
• The extension work was expanded through the formation of an
agricultural youth club. As first members of the club,33 boys
participated in poultry breeding & 38 in gardening.
• Teachers Training School: in 1954, an agricultural education class
was established to teach modern agriculture at the teacher's training
in Harar.
• Practical experience was gained through a poultry & gardening
projects. The graduates were expected to carry on agricultural
teaching & their rural schools.
• School Clubs: Youth clubs were initiated and supporter Ted by
extension service.
o Extension agents organized school clubs with the consent of the
headmaster.
o Teachers were expected to cooperate in supervision the club's
activities.
o Incidentally, extension agents were expected to spend around 40% of
their time in the work.
• REYA:Was formed at national congress held in 1980.
o It had strong ideological content and it received political, ideological
and organizational leadership from the party Membership was
voluntary (ages 14-30). Various activities of REYA were:
[Link] campaign
2. Social service
3. Direct agricultural work
4. Recreational activities
END OF CHAPTER THREE