After years of ups and downs in life, young Zimbabwean farmer Bernard Kaskate (PhD) is now the CEO of the trending Gohori Resort in Mutoko and a recipient of the Young African Ambassadors award. Kaskate believes that Africa’s youth should leverage the continent’s vast agricultural resources to address food insecurity and achieve self-sufficiency. According to him, Africa cannot be truly independent while its youth are confined to office jobs. “The youth must take off their suits and put on work clothes,” he said. “The Africa that the youth wants is within reach.”
An African Union report published this year reveals that despite Africa owning 60% of the world’s
arable land, it produces only 10% of global agricultural output. This supports Kaskate’s claim that underutilization of agricultural resources is forcing Africans to import food. Almost 70% of Africa’s population depends on agriculture, which the African Union has identified as the continent’s most untapped sector. Despite this potential, many skilled youths are migrating or attempting to migrate abroad.
“Youth must take control of the resources and make use of them,” Kaskate added, “I am saying we need to wake up. It is not easy, but the Africa we want must be built now. My government gave me land, so I had to work and borrow money until I built up. Now, I am where I am.”
Another young African diplomat, Ambassador Young Peru, who works with the African Union Agenda 2063 simulation project and serves as Africa Coordinator and Director of Parliament for the Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific joint session, echoed Kaskate’s feelings. He told The Ethiopian Herald that African youth should look inward, as developmental opportunities remain unutilized.
“When we look inward, we can find resources we thought we did not have,” he said. In terms of technological development, Africans are rising, especially in the growing field of artificial intelligence. To achieve comprehensive development, Africa needs strong policies and collaborative governments, he underlined.
Ambassador Young Peru added that many of Africa’s brightest minds live here but seek opportunities abroad.
“That is why we are asking our governments to create policies that encourage more investment in the continent. Our problems are not the West or China; our problem is the belief that we cannot change ourselves.”
He also stressed the importance of encouraging African innovators abroad to return home.
“If governments support them, they will come back,” he indicated. Adding, many young Africans are already engaging in technological innovations, which governments should acknowledge. Young students, including those aged 12 to 18, are doing impressive work, and the African Union is working to expand these efforts.
BY YESUF ENDRIS
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2024
