by Chloe Benson
![]()
During the IFAD Governing Council 2019, I had the opportunity to attend Sherrie Silver's press briefing on her new role as an IFAD Advocate for Rural Youth. During the Q&A session, she highlighted her passion and commitment to the new generation of farmers and emphasized the importance of creating agricultural employment opportunities for youth. In an era where hunger continues to rise, our world population needs more youth to pursue employment in the agricultural sector. Despite the urgent need to create new opportunities in the sector, Silver highlighted a trend among youth to perceive farming as "uncool" and outdated. Although every year, ten to twelve million youth enter the labour market in Africa, there is a growing perception that farming is antiquated.
![]()
Sherrie Silver's recent trip to an IFAD-supported project in South Cameroon connected her with young farming entrepreneurs achieving in creating employment and producing more food. The opportunity allowed her to share their successes with the world through her social media platforms. At the press conference, she highlighted the story of one farmer in particular, Gabriel. Gabriel is a young farmer from South Cameroon who owns a chicken farm. Despite his young age, business has already enabled him to buy a house for his family.
By sharing stories of young entrepreneurs like Gabriel, we show the world and a new generation of farmers that farming is not just an occupation for grandparents and elders. It can be an empowering career opportunity for young people too. During the briefing, Silver reflected on her own formative experiences with the empowering nature of farming. She described her grandfather's connection with his cows, which had always brought her joy growing up. Interacting with young entrepreneurs like Gabriel conjured up memories of her experiences with the zeal and passion associated with farming.
Young people have the energy to transform agriculture for the better. If we invest in their unique experiences, we can tap into their potential and push the agricultural sector forward. Rural youth are willing to take risks and grow. When they have access to knowledge, resources , markets, and land, they can promote long-term prosperity in their communities. We need to work with the changing mindsets of youth and encourage innovation within the agricultural sector. By doing so, we give youth the choice to stay in their communities and create opportunities right where they are. Giving rural youth choices is key to igniting a passion for farming in the new generation. It shows that farming can progress with them and create a better tomorrow.
Visit the Real Ground-breakers website
During the IFAD Governing Council 2019, I had the opportunity to attend Sherrie Silver's press briefing on her new role as an IFAD Advocate for Rural Youth. During the Q&A session, she highlighted her passion and commitment to the new generation of farmers and emphasized the importance of creating agricultural employment opportunities for youth. In an era where hunger continues to rise, our world population needs more youth to pursue employment in the agricultural sector. Despite the urgent need to create new opportunities in the sector, Silver highlighted a trend among youth to perceive farming as "uncool" and outdated. Although every year, ten to twelve million youth enter the labour market in Africa, there is a growing perception that farming is antiquated.
The question becomes: how can we make agriculture tech-focused and modernize the industry enough to lead more youth into the agricultural sector?Silver's new role offers a fresh perspective that redefines agricultural work as innovative and empowering. Through pop culture and art, we can transform the way agriculture is perceived around the world by telling the stories of rural youth in a different way. "We need to encourage the youth by showing them success stories of rural youth creating employment, running their own farms, and succeeding," Silver said. Voices like Sherrie Silver's provide the inspiration and passion that many young people feel the agricultural industry is lacking.
Sherrie Silver's recent trip to an IFAD-supported project in South Cameroon connected her with young farming entrepreneurs achieving in creating employment and producing more food. The opportunity allowed her to share their successes with the world through her social media platforms. At the press conference, she highlighted the story of one farmer in particular, Gabriel. Gabriel is a young farmer from South Cameroon who owns a chicken farm. Despite his young age, business has already enabled him to buy a house for his family.
By sharing stories of young entrepreneurs like Gabriel, we show the world and a new generation of farmers that farming is not just an occupation for grandparents and elders. It can be an empowering career opportunity for young people too. During the briefing, Silver reflected on her own formative experiences with the empowering nature of farming. She described her grandfather's connection with his cows, which had always brought her joy growing up. Interacting with young entrepreneurs like Gabriel conjured up memories of her experiences with the zeal and passion associated with farming.
Young people have the energy to transform agriculture for the better. If we invest in their unique experiences, we can tap into their potential and push the agricultural sector forward. Rural youth are willing to take risks and grow. When they have access to knowledge, resources , markets, and land, they can promote long-term prosperity in their communities. We need to work with the changing mindsets of youth and encourage innovation within the agricultural sector. By doing so, we give youth the choice to stay in their communities and create opportunities right where they are. Giving rural youth choices is key to igniting a passion for farming in the new generation. It shows that farming can progress with them and create a better tomorrow.
Visit the Real Ground-breakers website