In Uganda, about 70% of the population is below the age of 30 but most these rely on the little food that is produced by the few elderly people. The youth are in the spotlight of neglecting agriculture leading to food shortages and unemployment. Addressing the youth at the initiative for youth a platform that brought together different stakeholders on how to develop the youth, The Minister of State of Youth and Children Affairs Nakiwala Kiyingi challenged the youth to engage in commercial agriculture. “We have to organize agriculture number one, we have to create food centers to ensure that the growing population can benefit. But the youth, in particular, must engage in micro-farming, they must be able to sustain their homes beyond buying food on the daily basis because they don’t have sustainable jobs at the moment and they are out to have a lifestyle.” Said, Nakiwala Kiyingi – Minister of State for Youths and Children.

Nakiwala said the youth must be sensitized on the role agriculture played in the economic development. “What is missing within the youth in agriculture is one; information gap. There is a lacuna that when you think of engaging in coffee, for example, you never know how to partner with the big giants in the industry because the cooperatives are not there.” According to Johnson Kagugube the Director In-charge of development and training, time was now for the youth to focus on agriculture as a source of income for a better future. “You find in many towns the youth are seated, some of them are on sports betting, others are on whatever this thing the vehicle is moving and they are talking, they don’t want to be on the farm. On the farm, they leave the old people who are becoming weak and they cannot produce much. But we are telling them that there is a lot potential if you get involved in agriculture and there is a lot of money in agriculture.” Said, Johnson Kagugube –Executive Director, DRT.