Zebaldt Ngaruka
Namibian Youth Ambassador of the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU), Jacob Hikuama, called for transforming Africa’s agricultural sector by empowering a new generation of youth agripreneurs.
He was speaking at the recent SADC meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa.
In an interview with New Era publication, Hikuama said that addressing the barriers of funding and market access is the key to unlocking sustainable food systems and solving youth unemployment.
“To represent Namibia’s youth farmers at this level means carrying the struggles and aspirations of young farmers in all corners of our country. We are not just future farmers, we are farming today, but without land, finances and a seat at the table,” said Hikuama, who is also the chairperson of the Omaheke Regional Youth Forum.
He highlighted that a key focus of the SACAU meeting was strategic objectives four and six of the Kampala Strategy, which commits member states to ensure that at least 30% of youth and women are empowered in agrifood value chains by 2035, and that young people are included in agrifood governance.
According to Hikuama, participants noted that while the SADC region has fertile land and a young population, young farmers across the region face similar barriers.
“We have limited access to finance, lack of land tenure, poor access to markets and technology, and policies made without youth input. This meeting has been deliberate in pushing youth inclusion,” he said.
The youth leader added that the call from young farmers across SADC was clear, stating that they don’t want handouts. “We want enabling systems-tailor-made finance, mechanisation that we can afford, digital tools, and policies that recognise young people as agripreneurs,” he said.
Hikuama continued that SACAU, as the apex body for farmers’ unions in Southern Africa, says integrating youth is critical for food security, while with AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa) support, the organisation is amplifying youth voices to ensure national CAADP implementation plans reflect their needs.
Asked what Namibia stands to gain from the meeting, the youth ambassador said the gathering opened several opportunities for Namibian youth.
He said these include regional learning exchanges, access to AGRA-supported innovation hubs, participation in national Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) dialogues, and advocacy for the Namibia National Farmers Union (NNFU) Youth Desk to be strengthened.
He said the Kampala Declaration (which he attended previously) now gives Namibia a tool to hold policymakers accountable on youth commitments.
“If we domesticate Kampala properly, every agricultural policy and budget must answer one question. What is in it for young farmers and women? That is progress,” he said.
Furthermore, Hikuama called on the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, development partners and other stakeholders to ensure young farmers are co-creators of Namibia’s CAADP National Action Plan and not just beneficiaries.
He said agriculture is not a punishment, but it is business, science and profit.
“The Kampala Declaration has given us the language. Now we must claim space,” he said.
The meeting was attended by SADC farmers’ organisation members and was organised by SACAU with support from AGRA.
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