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Youth unemployment in West and Central Africa represents more than 60% of the active population, posing a real challenge for the region. Yet the agricultural sector, with its vast potential, appears to be an essential lever for absorbing this workforce and stimulating economic growth.

To guide young people along this promising path, CORAF, through its Agripreneur TV channel, organized a webinar on July 24, 2024, entitled "How to start your agricultural business?". This webinar brought together nearly 250 young people, enabling them to discover practical tools, expert advice and experience-sharing for launching and managing agricultural businesses.

Dr Alioune FALL, Acting Executive Director of CORAF, opened the session by stressing the importance of including young people and women in the agricultural sector. He emphasized the need for appropriate information and training to bridge existing disparities. For his part, " Innovative and sustainable practices will enable us to transform the agricultural sector and create opportunities for young people and women in Africa ", continued Dr. Fall.

Keys to success and strategies to adopt 

Mr. Amadou SIDIBE, architect and successful agricultural entrepreneur, gave a practical overview of arable land use in Africa. He recommended three essential keys to success in agriculture: determination, focus and market knowledge.

"Agriculture is profoundly influenced by the market. It is essential to have a thorough and precise understanding of how it works," says Amadou Sidibé.

He adds that off-season production and the use of greenhouse crops are crucial strategies for maximizing profits and coping with climate change.

Innovation and inspiration in agriculture

Planning before embarking on agricultural entrepreneurship is very important. Agribusiness specialist Dr. Yacouba DIALLO explained that young people need to assess their passions and skills, understand the market and develop a rigorous strategy. 

"Investing and starting a business is a noble and legal activity. However, entrepreneurship requires vision, strategy and rigorous planning," said Dr. Diallo.

Awa CABA, co-founder of the agricultural company Soreetul and an IT engineer, shared her inspiring journey in the digital transformation of agriculture in Senegal. In 2011, she won an international competition with the Pagel project, a platform facilitating market access for women's processing cooperatives.

" We were keen to reverse the trend by setting up this digital platform to promote the marketing of local produce by women processors," she explains. Her experience shows that digital innovations can revolutionize agriculture and create economic opportunities.

This webinar offered young people a valuable platform to explore the challenges and opportunities of the agricultural sector, providing them with the tools they need to start up and succeed in their business. To build on this momentum, CORAF, through its Agripreneur TV channel, plans to organize several more webinars for young people, covering more in-depth topics.

Watch the webinar replay: https: //bit.ly/3WFPnF7