Africa’s agriculture potential is staggering. The region has about 60 percent of the world’s uncultivable arable land. Some 50 years ago, it was a net exporter of agriculture produce. These potentials have helped foster economic growth and sustained livelihoods. But the trend has changed. In a dramatic turn-around, Africa today imports more food than it produces to feed itself. Agricultural exports... More

The end of 2013 and beginning of 2014 has been a milestone in the development of YPARD.  Many strategic events have been shaping the organization, from the external review of late 2013, to the strategic planning meeting in early January and the update of the charter.  The YPARD Business Plan 2014-2018 was developed based on the outcomes of the strategic meeting... More

Not sure the five selected youth moderators for the ForestsAsia Summit’s Youth Session were expecting such an important role when applying. They are thoroughly preparing the event, with putting together discussions topics and pertinent questions; they moderate e-discussions, and design tailored facilitation methods and tools for the session’s round-tables. Isn’t it what it takes to lead relevant collective solutions and bring... More

It is clear that major development policies in developing countries pay little or no attention to food insecurity and undernutrition. Food insecurity and undernutrition are low on priority list of most countries particularly in Africa. But the costs of food insecurity and undernutrition are staggering. Food insecurity and undernutrition threaten human survival. The 2012 Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) report : ‘The State... More

AGRINATURA Science Days will be held in Vienna, on 5 - 8 May 2014.The discussions will focus on how alliances between small-scale family farming and agricultural sciences can transform local and global food systems in ways that ensure food and nutrition security at all levels. I am invited to contribute as a panel discussant to bring a youth perspective, on behalf... More

Many women around the world dream of running to office so that they can help build a better future, not only for themselves and their families, but for all people in their country. Every women has a deep humanity and the will to be part of the change; we carry within us a core craving to add value and bring peace... More

The YPARD India working group was formally constituted in November 2013. The group is an interesting mix of globetrotting academics, researchers, development professionals and students. The group consists of 15 members from various states and agricultural universities of India. The profiles of all members can be found on YPARD and the purpose of this post is to give a short introduction... More

Africa is a net importer of food, spending more than $20 billion each year on food imports. As the African population continues to grow and urbanize at a fast rate, African agriculture and related value chains will be required to grow and evolve quickly. Addressing these problems calls for various initiatives; spanning macro-economic policy, improvements and access to technologies that can... More

On this beautiful day as we celebrate the International Women's Day, I would like to devote my blog to women that are a great drive in many sectors of economy. Women produce half of the world food, do small businesses, control the rational use of natural resources, innovate and create services. Women bring own perspective into the development process and without... More

“I have been raising pigs for five years with my parents just like any other ordinary farmer in Malawi, but my four years of undergraduate education has fuelled my interest in pig business; I am going commercial”, William Chimtenga, a passionate young final year student and agro-entrepreneur at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) said.  This is one of the... More

The Dryland Systems Research Program of the CGIAR published recently their gender strategy with a strong Youth component. The CGIAR has shown a strong support to the youth on many occasions, through post-doc programs, youth participation support at key events, capacity building opportunities and other activities. This strategy, at a research programme level, is bringing a strong strategic backbone to these... More

YPARD Iran has worked with Kimiyaye Sabz NGO since April 2013. We have contributed to Eco- friendly Agriculture group of Kimiyaye Sabz NGO in Markazi province (a province in center of Iran). This office has held special English workshop about agriculture and environment for students and graduated persons in these fields. Indeed language barrier was identified as a limitation in Iran... More

The people of Mureed Shakh are quite illiterate; most of the farmers were unaware of the technology and mass productivity of crops. The production of sugarcane they are cultivating is 50% less than what can be done with new technologies. When we visited and observed farmers of Mureed Shakh, they were farming sugarcane in majority, but they were not aware about how... More

"The first thing I think about is NOT Money." Pape Samb Pape knows what he talks about; he played a key role in the receiving of IFAD grant of US$1.95million to create opportunities for rural youth in West and Central Africa. Pape Samb is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GYIN, the Global Youth Innovation Network, a platform of... More

First time in Nepal, first day of January 2014 (17th Poush, 2070BS) was declared as National Poultry Day. This day's grand celebration was made jointly by farmers, hatchery entrepreneurs, veterinarians, agriculturalists, government service officers and people involving in poultry farming from different parts of Nepal in my own hometown, Chitwan district, on the chairmanship of Mr. Guna Chandra Bista (First Nepali... More

Nepal is predominantly an agricultural country on which 65.3% population depend for their livelihood. The agricultural system in Nepal is still traditional, where people mostly produce food crops which are of subsistence nature and very less amount of high value crops. Although youth accounts for more than 40% of the population many youth are attracted towards foreign jobs which create a limitation for... More

Global Forum for Food and Agriculture, took place in Berlin on January 16 – 18, 2014 under the title “Empowering Agriculture: Fostering Resilience – Securing Food and Nutrition“. YPARD Georgia had a great opportunity to attend the conference and represent Young Professionals' Platform for Agriculture Development at the forum.  This international conference was organized by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture... More

Everybody knows that Nepalese agriculture is typically characterized by smallholder, traditional and subsistence farming. The recent study (6th National Agriculture Census, 2011/12) shows that there are 3.831 million farming household in the country where agriculture is the main source of income for 83 percent of the families, but 60 percent of farmers are unable to feed from their own production. The... More

[Youth Report from a Conference Organized by Agrilink at LAHORE] When a country is rapidly growing, it is always guiding its nation towards prosperity in economical development. First you need to set the goal and understand the tradition and issues/problems of your people to make a successful plan, sometimes you need additional training in aspects of cultivation, production or marketing. Sometimes... More

This world is full of billionaires, successful people from ordinary to extraordinary class, who had done uncountable tremendous jobs in their lives, so this may not make you WONDER, but this is the beginning of success for an ordinary girl, who believes that one day her dreams come true. I am profoundly indebted to International Cotton Association for extending an invitation... More