BAD: Young Licensee Betting on Agriculture.
In Côte d'Ivoire, Viviane Kakou, a young graduate, decided to invest in agriculture to make her dreams come true. With financial support from the African Development Bank (BAD), her dream of becoming an agricultural entrepreneur came true.
The Bet on Agriculture
With a master's degree in geography, Viviane chose not to work in an office and follow her passion for agriculture. About six months ago, the 37-year-old began training at the Higher School of Agronomy (ESA) in Yamoussoukro, in Ivory Coast.
The institution is responsible for carrying out the project “ENABLE Youth Côte d'Ivoire Employment in Agribusiness Project“, financed by the ADB, which invested 1,4 million euros in the program.
“During my degree, I was working in the rural economy among the women of Afféry, in the department of Adzopé (southeast)”.
“I started to like agriculture and I thought I could make a living from it, and that's why I came here voluntarily”, says Viviane.
In 2017, Viviane traveled to Brazil thanks to BAD, which offered her training in cassava.
“I work in the cassava value chain. I chose to work in food agriculture because I think cassava is white gold”.
“The main cassava derivative here is attiéké. But there are many products derived from cassava that can be exploited”.
She said, adding that she had the support of ENABLE Youth to create her SME.
ENABLE Youth Côte d'Ivoire project
In Côte d'Ivoire, the combined percentage of vulnerable jobs and unemployed people in the active population was between 70 and 90% in 2018. The main objective of the project is to train the new generation of young farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs in Côte d'Ivoire, promoting the structural transformation of local agriculture through technological innovation.
In addition, it encourages young graduates to return to the countryside and contribute to reducing unemployment in the country. These young people, aged between 21 and 37 years old, with a minimum of two years of higher education, constitute the first promotion of the project's incubation phase.
“This project is important because it creates optimal conditions for agricultural entrepreneurship, supporting capacity building, promoting agricultural professionals and funding youth projects”.
“The objective of the ENABLE Youth Côte d'Ivoire project is to strengthen the capacity of young graduates to create enterprises in agricultural value chains”.
“Through agribusiness incubators, young people will be trained in modern agricultural skills”.
“After the incubation, licensees will receive support to finance their companies”
ESA Director Siaka Koné said.
In addition to agricultural and livestock production, young beneficiaries of the ENABLE Youth Côte d'Ivoire pilot project are also learning skills in processing and e-commerce. They are involved in the production and transformation of cassava into flour, attiéké and other by-products, or liquid cassava waste into ethanol.
There is also the production and processing of pureed and powdered chillies, the production of bananas in the low season and the production of quails and quail eggs. Others are also involved in the production of oysters, mushrooms (ganoderma), raising rabbits or guinea fowl.
The project, in addition to providing training and financial resources, also generates a positive impact on the lives of young people and on the local economy. With the increasing number of young people involved in agriculture, the country has the opportunity to grow and develop in a sustainable way, promoting food security and job creation.
Incentive for Young Graduates
Agriculture is a crucial sector for the future of Côte d'Ivoire, as it represents an essential source of employment and income for the population. Investing in projects such as ENABLE Youth Côte d'Ivoire contributes to the development of the country, generating opportunities for young graduates while boosting the local economy.
Viviane Kakou, now an agricultural entrepreneur, encourages other young graduates to follow in her footsteps.
“I would like to send a message to young people, especially girls, to tell them that I was not inactive”.
“I have a master's degree in geography, so I have no problem finding a job.”
"But there are many other opportunities in agriculture."
“I urge them to get involved. We can train you to change your future”.
She advised Viviane Kakou who, in addition to Brazil, also went to Ibadan, Nigeria, to improve her agricultural knowledge thanks to the ADB.
“I would like to thank the AfDB, our Ministry of Youth and the Youth Employment Program”.
“Thanks to them, my dream is coming true”.
Viviane concludes, speaking in her experimental cassava field of a quarter of a hectare.
Opportunities and challenges
Agricultural entrepreneurs like Viviane Kakou have the opportunity to expand their businesses and reach new markets. With the knowledge gained in training and the support of the AfDB, young graduates can explore new opportunities and broaden their areas of interest, further contributing to the development of agriculture in Côte d'Ivoire.
While the ENABLE Youth Côte d'Ivoire project offers many opportunities, young agricultural entrepreneurs also face challenges such as accessing finance, implementing technologies and adapting to climate change.
To overcome these barriers, it is essential that young people receive continuous support from organizations such as the ADB and that public policies are created that facilitate access to credit and innovative technologies.
Conclusion
Thanks to AfDB support, Viviane Kakou was able to fulfill her dream of becoming an agricultural entrepreneur and thus contribute to the development of agriculture in Côte d'Ivoire. Her successful example serves as an inspiration to other young graduates who want to pursue a career in the countryside and make a difference in their communities in Côte d'Ivoire.
Viviane Kakou, by investing in agriculture, showed the sector's potential to transform the lives of young people and the local economy and, as the support and implementation of projects such as ENABLE Youth Côte d'Ivoire, are vital to create a brighter future prosperous and sustainable for afica and for africans.
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Picture: © 2023 AfDB
