Incentivizing e-Agriculture and Agribusiness Incubators for Youth Employment in Nigeria

The paper explored how agriculture can be made more attractive for youth employment for attainment of economic diversification in an oil-based economy. It took a quick x-ray of the nation’s agricultural policies vis-à-vis youth employment in agriculture, identified some challenges militating against youth interestedness in agriculture and proffered workable solutions that could drive youth interest in agriculture. It is argued that, agriculture should be promoted as a sustainable livelihood source and as an initial entry point to propel Nigeria into a green economy where there is inclusivity and equity, resource use efficiency and minimal environmental risks in line with United Nations (UN) Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals. In an era where the world economies are driven by knowledge, integration of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and agro-tourism into agricultural activities as obtainable in any truly business venture will make agriculture attractive to the youth. Positive changes in the way we consider the youth as mere beneficiaries of agricultural interventions to seeing them as co-actors/players in the agriculture space and along the e-agriculture value chain will lead to improved agricultural productivity. The use of ICT and promoting establishment of functional Agribusiness Incubators in strategically selected Nigerian universities is needed. Agricultural policy reforms that support training youth farmers and prospective ones as impact entrepreneurs will engender youth involvement in agriculture, give them a sense of ownership and protection from unfavourable policies including subsidies that, apparently, restrict or even hinder youth involvement.