YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN COFFEE

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YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN COFFEE

Progreso Network WebinarPresented by:

Chuaga Kinuthia31st July, 2014

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Outline1. Introduction2. The big question? 3. The current status.4. Must we have the youths in coffee?5. How do we engage the youth in coffee? 6. Why should the youth grow coffee?7. Other opportunities available for the youths.8. Can the youths be involved in coffee marketing?9. Technology + Youth + Coffee = ?10.Way forward?

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introductionIn many african coffee producing countries,

average age of coffee farmers is increasing.

Youth do not find it attractive to stay in coffee

and leave the coffee farms to their elders.

Continuation of coffee production by

“the next generation” is therefore at

stake.

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introduction

Youths are the future of the agricultural sector.

As the world population grows, agricultural

productivity decreases and rural exodus

threatens sustainable food production and

supply.

Young farmers play an important role in

ensuring food security for future generations.

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THE BIG QUESTION?Why have we lost the youth in

the coffee production?How comes less or no young

people own coffee bushes?Where have we lost the young

people?Have we lost ground in trying to

introduce young people to coffee growing?

Is there a way we can involve the young in coffee production? 6

The current statusFewer youths are members of any contract farming

Youths are underrepresented in membership and governance of farmers associations

Youths have less resources in terms of land, technology and credit.

Youths have less access to technical training and extension programmes

Finally youths do not see a future for themselves in agriculture and most migrate to cities 7

must we have the youths in

coffee? YES!

PRODUCTIVITY: With the average age of a coffee farmer

at 60 years, industry players forecast an unproductive sub-sector due to low numbers of young people taking up coffee farming.

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CAREER CHOICE:Agriculture has a negative image as a career

choice in the eyes of the youthThe perception needs to be changed by

focusing on making it attractive to young people.

They are ideal catalysts for change given their greater propensity and willingness to adopt new ideas, concepts and technology.

These are all critical in changing the way coffee farming is practiced and perceived.

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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:Decline of the industry has adversely

affected the livelihoods of many rural people who depend on proceeds of the crop to sustain their families.

Given the employment opportunities in the sub-sector, coffee can play a significant role in impacting youth unemployment in Africa.

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How do we engage the youths in

coffee?It is important to seek innovative ways to attract younger persons into the coffee value chain. Ways that have been embraced are:

1. Mentorship2. Representation in societies3. Funding4. Training

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How do we engage the youths in

coffee?MENTORSHIP: Done by the parents giving the youth a

few trees in which they are entitled to nurture until the coffee is harvested, processed and sold.

Examples: Gikanda F.C.S. & Dedan Kimathi University of Technology in Kenya

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How do we engage the youths in

coffee?REPRESENTATION IN SOCIETIES: The committee members to include a

youth representative Motivation to those already engaged

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How do we engage the youths in

coffee?FUNDING: Access to finance as the biggest

challenge when the youth start farming. Financial institutions can devise methods

of rending to the youths

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How do we engage the youths in

coffee?TRAINING: It is key when winning youths to growing

of coffee. Coffee is a ‘technical’ crop that require

most of the youths trained on how to handle it professionally.

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WHY SHOULD THE YOUTH GROW COFFEE

What are estimated outcomes? 1 Tree when well nurtured yields 20kgs of

Cherry 1,000 coffee tree under an acre (e.g. Batian

variety) This is approximately 20,000kgs per acre 1,000kgs of cherry yields 160kgs clean coffee

hence for 20,000kgs one would yield 3,200kgs of clean coffee.

On a good day in the auction, the green coffee may on average fetch about 6$ per kg. Hence 3,200kgs will be about 19,200$

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Other opportunities available for the youths in coffee

What other opportunities has coffee created for the youths other than farming?

1. Coffee Baristas2. Cuppers3. Training 4. Research5. Apps developers

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Coffee baristas

With the current upsurge of coffee shops in major towns, youths have been involved as coffee baristas.

These are professionals in a coffee house who prepares and serve espresso based coffee drinks.

With O-Level qualification you can train for a month and become a barista.

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