After graduating from the University of Malawi with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism in her back pocket, Rose Chisowa decided to take an alternate route. After interning briefly in 2013, she decided to become a farmer.
Fast forward five years and Chisowa is running a successful farm and supplying vegetables to Shoprite locations.
She began her journey with only three acres of land and four sows. Her livestock quickly multiplied to 45, some of which she sold for chickens and goats. Gradually she got involved in horticulture – growing and selling just about any vegetable you can think of.
Chisowa told her story to agri-stakeholders and a bright bunch of youths on May 29, speaking as a guest at the 2018 National Youth Agribusiness Investment Forum in Lilongwe.
While there were over 200 attendees at the two-day forum, a large body of literature suggests there is disillusionment with, and disinterest in, agri-based livelihoods among the youth.
A 2015 study considering factors that prevent the effective engagement of youth in Malawi revealed a large contributor is an inaccurate perception of agribusiness.
According to the study, there is a general perception that farming is not a business but, rather, an enterprise for people with no alternative.
Considering the alternative of a career in journalism, Chisowa represents the flipside of misperception.
“The fact you have a degree doesn’t mean you should be employed in an air conditioned office,” said Chisowa, emphasising that she’s more successful now as a farmer than ever before in her life.
As stressed at the forum, young farmers have the ability to transform the sector by applying new technologies and new thinking. Chisowa advertises her product on social media, selling almost 80 percent of it on Facebook, where people can place orders and have their product delivered.
With five years’ experience, not once has she regretted her decision to pursue agriculture.
“What I have today, many of my friends with degrees don’t have,” Chisowa said.
Despite potential for profit, agricultural policies in Africa are not responsive to the needs of young farmers. According to a 2015 case study aimed to assess the nature of networking between youth representatives and policy makers within the agri-sector in Malawi, youth farmers have little interaction with each other, and thus, remain on the periphery of agricultural policymaking.
A panel discussion on the second day of the forum acted as an opportunity for youths to hear from representatives of the agriculture sector and the youth sector, concerning the extent to which they consider youth in their programming.
“We cannot move ahead without involving youths in budgets,” said Edward Zombe, representing the ministry of youth on the panel.
Chief Agribusiness Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Jeremy Nkhoma, assured the youth that current funding programmes are focused specifically on women and youths.
Assurances aside, Chisowa had little help with funding when she started her business. Imagine a 24-year-old farmer with a food business plan and no collateral.
“To make matters worse, they expect you to start paying back after a month or so and, yet, tomatoes and cabbage take four months to mature,” Chisowa said.
Regardless of the challenges faced, Chisowa was able to facilitate the growth of her business on her own terms, through small savings and networking.
While the public puts pressure on the government to attract youth to agriculture, Chisowa emphasises an alternative approach, encouraging youths to show initiative and to engage themselves in dialogue.
“Let’s not rely on our government to give us jobs. Instead, let’s help the government by creating employment ourselves,” she said.
Another youthful father at the forum, Reshid Geloo, asked youths to join hands.
“I would like the youth to join me,” Geloo said.
With rabbits, goats, sheep and ostriches to tend to, Geloo has a customer base he can no longer supply to on his own.
“It’s not easy,” he admits, “but we can help each other, let’s join hands.”
It is paramount for the youth to realise the potential in agriculture to their own future, as well as the future of the sector at large.
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