Abstract
Active involvement of youth in agriculture is necessary for sustainable agricultural systems but is currently a challenge in many areas. Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative participatory research methods, this study analyses rural youth’s realities, perspectives and aspirations in dryland Agricultural Livelihood Systems (ALSs) in the Midelt Province, Morocco, with a particular focus on gender. The data collected are an important first step in understanding the target group and working with youth to identify and develop appropriate programmatic interventions to improve their livelihoods and rural futures. Prior to expressing their aspirations for their rural life and career, the youth first raised the issue of unfulfilled primary needs: access to education, potable water, heath care, and lack of infrastructure in their villages. The issue of outmigration from rural areas is controversial and not so widespread. The youth’s dream village is envisioned as a rural place where people have a more comfortable life with their own families, farming better and more sustainably rather than seeking a job in urban areas. To support the youth’s aspirations and their willingness to stay in agriculture, there is a need for infrastructural and regulatory interventions and specific training in agricultural practices targeting and engaging youth.
Highlights
The sustainability of agriculture and food production relies on young people remaining in rural areas and engaging in agriculture, in particular in challenging areas like drylands and mountain areas, and in countries of high youth migration like Morocco
Key informants identified as representatives of national agencies and external development partners active in the field of agricultural development and agricultural research in the Midelt Province in and outside of the study region were approached to understand their perceptions of issues that relate to rural youth
The findings of this study report the realities and livelihoods, the level of decision making, the perceptions of agriculture, the challenges the youth face with respect to agriculture and their personal life, the proposed solutions, and the aspirations of the surveyed rural youth
Summary
The sustainability of agriculture and food production relies on young people remaining in rural areas and engaging in agriculture, in particular in challenging areas like drylands and mountain areas, and in countries of high youth migration like Morocco. Existing research on youth aspirations and trajectories related to the labour market tends to mostly focus on education research, looking at occupational and vocational targets [10] and more significantly in Europe and North America These studies, while interesting, are rarely applicable to rural youth in developing countries, who operate within a drastically different opportunity space. To date there has been little empirical research in Africa on youth aspirations, but the studies that do exist lend support to the notion that young people turn away from agriculture not as a result of poor economic returns or lack of access to factors of production (such as land)” [10]. It was recognized that these cases are highly context-specific
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