During the 23rd Nasfam Annual General Meeting, Malawi was called to make farming profitable to attract the youth.

The above call was made by World Farmers Association President, Theo de Jager, who explained that if profits are good in agriculture, the youth will be attracted. Some years back a study was conducted asking young girls the question, would you marry a farmer? The answers we got was, yes, if he has money, if he is rich. So if the youth realise that they can get rich through farming, they would come in,” de Jager said.

Last year, Wealth Magazine and Network for Youth Development (NfYD), in partnership with Africa Institute for Corporate Citizenship (AICC), Development Fund and GIZ embarked on an initiative to empower budding entrepreneurs venturing in agribusiness, while creating a platform for young agripreneurs to improve their businesses.

The organisations are bringing together over 170 young farmers and stakeholders to a meeting to be hosted Friday in Lilongwe. NfYD co-founder, Harry Chima, said the move was aimed at shaping a generation of radical entrepreneurs.

During the 23rd Nasfam Annual General Meeting, the Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Kondwani Nankhumwa, concurred with De Jager on the need to make farming attractive to the youth and women. Nankhumwa said government is committed to improving agriculture which contributes about 29% to the GDP and 65% of jobs in Malawi.