Things to do to encourage young people to become agricultural entrepreneurs

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Imagine how the world would have been without agricultural practices; where would our sources of food, income, and many more come from? One of the richest groups of people in the world is farmers.

Being an agricultural entrepreneur is a great opportunity to contribute to the growth of the nation in terms of creating job opportunities, food, and other agricultural resources.

When it comes to the main activities of agricultural entrepreneurs in contributing to the agricultural system, they engage in livestock production, crop production, transforming agricultural products into valuable raw materials, services like farm management, etc.

What initiatives should the government take to make young people agricultural entrepreneurs?

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The best ways the government could help young people become agricultural entrepreneurs are:

• ENLIGHTENMENT AND EDUCATION
  This is one of the best ways in which the government could achieve this. By encouraging and enlightening people about agricultural practices and also the importance and benefits of being an agricultural entrepreneur, many people lack the knowledge and goals behind agricultural practices. They see it as just a mere practice mainly for poor people and do not see the need to engage in it; this shouldn't be so. The government should make it compulsory to include agriculture and entrepreneurship in the school curriculum; this will bring awareness and also stir up interest in agriculture among young people.

• TRAINING
  The government should offer free training programs in communities where most people would have the opportunity to participate and also be enlightened on the importance of agricultural activities.

• AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES
  In most cases, people might have an interest in agriculture but lack resources in terms of capital, land, and, in most cases, technology. The government should take it as a responsibility to provide assistance in these aspects, as this is likely to aid the growth of the nation.

• SUPPORT AND MENTORSHIP
  In this aspect, the government also has an important role to play. The government should provide support, such as fertilizers for planting and feeds for rearing livestock. The government should set up agencies that will mentor and assist people in some farm activities; this will help develop interest in agricultural activities.

• REGULATORY SUPPORT, POLICY, PROMOTION, AND MARKETING
  The tax rate should be favorable for young agricultural entrepreneurs since a high tax rate might discourage them. The regulatory processes for starting an agricultural business should be concise to boost the interest of young entrepreneurs. The government should initiate marketing campaigns to promote agricultural practices. Using media and online platforms will bring enlightenment to young agricultural entrepreneurs.

Please tell me in detail which organization helps young people in your area get financial assistance for agricultural entrepreneurs and what is the interest rate of this loan?

Financial assistance for agricultural entrepreneurs, specifically in my country, Nigeria, where I reside in Akwa Ibom State, is provided by different organizations. The most common one is the Akwa Ibom State Government's Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources. They formulate programs to support young agricultural entrepreneurs, aiding programs like supporting young farmers, training, funding, access to technology, and other yield improving techniques. They also offer loans to farmers to aid their farming activities. The interest rate of the loan is not specific.

If you are a young agricultural entrepreneur, what crop will you initially produce and why?

As a young agricultural entrepreneur, the crop I would initially want to produce is cassava. The reasons are as follows:

1. POTENTIAL HIGH YIELD
   When we talk about high-yielding crops, cassava is not left out; it is considered one of the high-yielding potential crops, which makes it profitable.

2. CLIMATE RESISTANCE
   Cassava has the ability to thrive in any climate condition and is suitable for areas with unpredictable climate conditions.

3. HIGH MARKET DEMAND
   Cassava has high market demand because of its various applications in industries like food and biofuel, and the demand is increasing day by day.

4. LOW STARTUP CAPITAL
   It does not require much capital to start, unlike other crops; its farming activities can be carried out with simple farming techniques and local equipment.

5. JOB OPPORTUNITIES
   Cassava production can create employment opportunities for local dwellers, as well as job opportunities in industries such as the production of starch, flour, garri, biofuel, ethanol, and many more.

6. NUTRITIONAL VALUE
   Cassava is rich in carbohydrates, minerals, and fiber.

What are the initial challenges as a young agricultural entrepreneur?

Challenges that a young agricultural entrepreneur may likely face initially include a lack of capital, as they may need to buy land and other farming tools, along with maintenance costs. Lack of skills and enlightenment may also pose a great challenge, as they may not know the various applications needed to carry out some agricultural activities. They may also lack the knowledge and ability to tackle competition from existing entrepreneurs. Government policies may also be problematic for them since they are new to the system. Unpredictable weather conditions may pose significant challenges, rendering great risks to livestock and crops. The cost of labor management can be too expensive for a young agricultural entrepreneur, and managing personal life and business can be challenging in terms of bills and consumption.

Agricultural entrepreneurial skills are essential for the growth of a nation; I encourage every youth to indulge in it.

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