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Youth Involvement in Sustainable Rural Development: A Scoping Study

in Uganda

By

Philani Hlophe Dhlamini*

Kampala, August 2014

*Makerere University (Kampala, Uganda)

This research was supported by the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) at the University of

Greenwich and the McKnight Foundation. It is a working paper circulated for discussion

and comments. The findings and recommendations are those of the author, and do not

necessarily reflect the views of NRI or the McKnight Foundation.

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Acknowledgements

The principal sponsor - The McKnight Foundation, without whose financial support the

research would not have been possible.

The Natural Resources Institute of the University of Greenwich for hosting the scoping

study.

The leadership and supervisory support in the persons of Dr. Tim Chancellor and Prof.

William Otim-Nape.

The consultative assistance received from the following: Roman Zipaj, John Linton,

Ulrich Kleih, Bruno Tran and Simon Walker.

The team of Lisa Katusiime and Isaac Omiat of AGRO MARKET DAY for their essential

contribution.

The Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE) for the hosting of the focused group

discussion.

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Executive Summary

This report is a result of a project titled: Review of the Factors Influencing Youth

Engagement in Rural Development. The project was made possible through funding from

the McKnight Foundation. The overall objective of the project was to identify possible

opportunities for youth in Uganda to make lasting contributions to the development of

rural areas whilst promoting sustainable agricultural practices and biodiversity

conservation in these agro-based communities.

The report intends to document how the Ugandan youth can be integrated into the process

of developing rural communities in a manner that preserves sustainability and

biodiversity, but also tackles issues of youth unemployment and advances the

development agenda of Uganda. It is important to understand the youth perception of

rural lifestyles, and the circumstances that encourage or discourage them from living in

and contributing to rural communities.

The involvement of youth in the rural development process has been hindered by mass

rural-urban migration. In the Ugandan context, all roads lead to the capital city Kampala.

This presents a situation where rural youth leave their rural homes to pursue urban

lifestyles and young urbanites themselves are reluctant to commit to rural lifestyles.

Investigation was needed insofar as generating ideas and identifying possible

opportunities for the Ugandan youth to engage themselves with rural communities and

ultimately influence the development of the same.

Data was collected from Uganda using mixed research methods. A literature review,

focused group discussion and a case study were conducted.

The process of elaborate consultation and review yielded Information & Communication

Technologies (ICT's) and Agro-tourism/Rural Tourism as feasible ways to engage young

Ugandans into the sustainable development of rural areas. These two fields of opportunity

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are based on accurately matching the set of skills and abilities of the current youth

population and finding where they can be readily applied in real life situations. The youth

population in Uganda at present has more urban-oriented skills as opposed to agricultural

skills which are applicable in the rural setting. Despite this, there was a need to be able to

channel youth with non-agricultural skills to contribute to the development of rural

communities in a manner that guarantees them employment.

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements........................................................................................................... 2

Executive Summary.......................................................................................................... 3

Table Of Contents........................................................................................................... 5

1. Introduction.............................................................................................................. 6

1.1 Problem and Justification of the Study.................................................................... 8

1.2 Purpose and Objectives of the Study....................................................................... 9

1.3 Research Questions.................................................................................................. 9

2. Methodology............................................................................................................ 9

2.1 Research Design....................................................................................................... 9

Literature Review…………………………………………………………………….... 10

Case Study: AGROMARKET DAY...………...……………………………………….. 15

Focused Group Discussion: Youth & Agro-ecotourism….…………………………… 18

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………….22

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1. Introduction

The youth population in sub-Saharan Africa is increasingly regarded as a valuable human

resource for most if not all the countries in the region. Youth unemployment and food

security continue to be instances of need that are yet to be fulfilled. As such, rural areas

are falling behind the much faster developing urban areas. The engagement of youth in

the development of rural areas is becoming more necessary with unemployment weighing

so heavily on urban towns and cities. In searching for solutions outside urban locations,

how can the youth be engaged in developing rural areas? More importantly, what

influences their involvement or non-involvement in rural development?

“Small-scale agriculture is the developing world’s single biggest source of employment,

and with necessary support it can offer a sustainable and productive alternative to the

expansion of large-scale, capital-intensive, labour-displacing corporate farming. This

however assumes there is a generation of young rural men and women who want to be

small farmers, while mounting evidence suggests that young people are uninterested in

farming or rural futures.” (Ben White, 2012). What are the factors influencing the youth

to be resistant towards farming and rural futures which could potentially grant them

employment and develop rural regions into thriving communities? Ben White identifies

the “de-skilling of rural youth and the downgrading of farming and rural life”, in which

he blames the education system for this apathy towards rural society. He cites the

problem being that the educational system advances skills which are applicable only in

urban areas, therefore “de-skilling” them from being able to perform in the areas they are

needed to be or could benefit from. White also suggests that schools discourage rural

futures and lifestyles, thus degrading them in the eyes of the youth – therefore meaning

that only urban-related activities are desired by rural youth. Another aspect which adds

onto this phenomenon is the less developed infrastructure in rural areas, which

discourages many young people from striving towards living the rest of their lives in rural

communities.

In light of these factors that are acting as major deterrents to the youth becoming engaged

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and involved in the rural development process, what could influence these same young

persons to dedicate themselves to rural development? Could agro-related entrepreneurial

opportunities possibly be utilized as incentives to engage the youth in this development

process? Paying particular attention to Uganda, 57% of the rural youth entrepreneurs

perceive themselves as having less opportunities compared to urban youth (ICBE-RF

Research Report, 2012). This perspective is fuelled by the problems young people

increasingly have, even if they want to become farmers or rural citizens, in getting access

to land while still young (White, 2012). There is a generational problem in agriculture

where an older generation maintains hold and access to family or community resources in

these rural landscapes. Youth become reluctant on the basis that they may not be granted

independent access to these resources and therefore regard their rural homes as places

where their independence to be creative, experimental or entrepreneurial is to a large

extent suppressed in the interests of older beings in the community.

As a result of the multi-dimensional interplay of factors that affect youth originating from

rural communities, up to 57 percent of Ugandan youth in particular are not optimistic

about the opportunities available to them should they choose to undertake careers in a

rural setting. Indeed there is a need to “turn rural areas from backwaters into places where

[young] people have access to quality services and profitable opportunities, and where

innovation takes place, whether in agricultural production and marketing, in non-farm

enterprises or in energy generation”(IFAD, 2010). Whilst there are many policy

orientations that can be devised to address the existing situation, the socio-cultural

relations and structures within communities will be more difficult to confront.

However, there are relatively under-explored opportunities involving rural areas which

youth in Uganda could capitalize on. These opportunities lie in the domain of

Agri-business and often present scenarios where young persons could develop

occupations for themselves that would grant them independence whilst realistically

continuing to be immersed in the rural societies they are engaging with. There is a

possibility where Agro-tourism, Eco-tourism or Rural Tourism can be embraced as

entrepreneurial opportunities for young people. In essence young people could develop an

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alternative source of income that would benefit them and the small-holder agriculturalists

surrounding them. Additionally, there is also an opportunity for the youth to be involved

in developing agro-oriented Information and Communication Technologies (ICT’s) for

their rural communities. This suggestion is crafted in adaptation to the contemporary

circumstances; rather than wait for policy initiation to convert the rural environment into

a more suitable form for the youth, there are innovations that can be introduced under the

existing circumstances.

1.1 Problem and Justification of the Study

Sub-Saharan Africa, among other locations categorized as 'the developing world', has

proved to be heavily dependent on agriculturally driven livelihoods. The development of

this region undoubtedly hinges on agro-based communities, even more so in the Republic

of Uganda. However, mounting evidence suggests that young people are uninterested in

farming or rural futures (White, 2012). With Uganda having a median age of 15.5 years

old according to the CIA Factbook 2013 (making it the 2nd youngest country in the world

after Niger), it is undeniable that the youth are the bulk of the population and the

responsibility of pioneering development efforts relies largely upon their meaningful

participation.

The centralization of resources and functionality in the capital city Kampala, has

propelled Rural-Urban migration, subsequently raising urban unemployment rates. There

is a need to identify channels and opportunities, which are applicable to the existing

youth population, to draw them towards rural communities and effectively bring about a

'natural' decentralization of Uganda.

1.2 Purpose and Objectives of the Study

The scoping study was undertaken as an investigation into possible opportunities that

could channel Uganda's youth bulge towards rural development. It is intended that this

will decrease youth unemployment whilst advancing the development of rural

communities both infra-structurally and economically.

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1.3 Research Questions

a) How can ICT's be utilized as a means of engaging youth in the sustainable

development process in Uganda.

b) How can Agro-ecotourism be utilized as a means of engaging youth in the

sustainable development process in Uganda.

2. Methodology

2.1 Research Design

The scoping study was limited to an interpretive approach, reflecting mainly qualitative

forms of inquiry. A literature review was conducted in order to provide clarification on

already existing information. This literature review was supplemented with in depth

interviews with several experts to derive an expert-oriented opinion on the subject. A case

study was an additional undertaking to compliment the literature review and in depth

interviewing. Because the study utilizes mostly qualitative forms of inquiry, it is therefore

termed a "Scoping Study". As a scoping study, it serves as an introduction, calling for

more intensive and thorough research to be launched in this regard.

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Literature Review

In contemplating the subjects of agriculture and rural development in relation to Ugandan

youths, distinctions between ‘rural youth’ and ‘urban youth’ need clarification. Viewing

rural and urban youth as separate categories; there are significant differences in

perspective between people in the two groups. However the distinction between the two

groups cannot be very clearly defined because some young people regularly move

backwards and forwards between a village and an urban home. There are urban-based

youth who continue to interact regularly with their rural homes and there are rural youth

who pursue education in urban areas. Therefore, the term ‘Youth’ will apply to and

accommodate both the rural and urban youth within this context.

Information Communication Technologies (ICT’s) as an Avenue to engage

Youth in Sustainable Rural Development

“Mobile technology allows farmers to leapfrog directly to high productivity. Young

entrepreneurs mix agriculture with 21st century global markets” – KOFI ANAN

As technology continues to evolve in a global context, it is almost certain that the

sustainable development process in Uganda will be driven by technological innovation.

Therefore, there is opportunity for Ugandan Youths to pioneer Sustainable Rural

Development through the use and adaptation of ICT’s. The specific avenues of interest

are ICT solutions for Agriculture and ICT’s for extension services. For Ugandan Youth,

these avenues possess possibilities which are open to their exploitation – this depends

upon their capacity for creativity and innovation.

In light of the fact that the majority of the youth population in Uganda lacks agro-related

skills, the use of ICT presents an adaptation to utilize the skills they actually do have. As

more young Ugandans are immersed in a digital age, they are quite evidently becoming a

“tech-savvy” trend. “Modern ICTs offer great potential: they can attract youth to the

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(agricultural) sector, provide up-to-date information, and are excellent marketing, training

and financing tools” – (FAO, 2014)

ICT Solutions for Agriculture

In a global society that is fast becoming digitally driven, the field of ICT is gaining a

reputation for problem-oriented applications. The application of ICT’s for the purpose of

providing solutions to the demands of agro-based or rural communities is only just

emerging. “Most Africans, and the vast majority of Africa’s poor, continue to live and

work in rural areas, principally as smallholder farmers” (Africa Progress Report, 2014).

The suggestion is that Ugandan Youth should look towards developing and implementing

ICT solutions for Agriculture. The solution for eradicating poverty in rural areas is

through eliminating the daunting challenges facing farmers/agriculturalists in these

communities. In this respect, there is opportunity for persons to capitalize on the

obstacles facing these people and develop an entrepreneurial niche based on solutions

through ICT.

An example where ICT Solutions for Agriculture, formulated by Youth are functioning

and could be duplicated more in Uganda, has already taken shape in neighbouring

Rwanda: “A high-tech lab in Rwanda is helping young people develop ICT-based

agricultural solutions and turn them into commercial ventures. In June 2012, kLab was set

up in Kigali to bring together tenants (the name given to young people with business ideas)

and mentors (guest experts committed to helping the young innovators convert their

dreams into reality). The link-up offers support to young entrepreneurs throughout the

process, providing them with Internet access and training to improve their ICT skills and

concrete advice on how to market their ideas and access venture capital. Workshops,

camps and competitions help young people to become more commercial, teaching them

how to write a business proposal, how to network and what kind of market to target… The

business plans developed by teams of youth and mentors at kLab cover a range of sectors,

including ICT applications for agriculture. A new and regular kLab feature invites farmers

and heads of farmer cooperatives to talk about the challenges they face. Using this

information, young people and their mentors will have more focus for the areas needing

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new ideas, and they will attempt to develop suitable ICT solutions in response.” - (Case

study drafted by C. Goemans, adapted from CTA)

This type of venture, in developing ICT solutions for agriculture, requires a certain brand

of youth with a significant individual capacity for ICT-related activities. The field of

Applied ICT is rapidly emerging and Young Ugandans have an opportunity to transform

their communities with ICT driven innovations. Bearing in mind that small-holder

agriculture is common-place in the country, ICT innovations for ‘agri-preneurs’ and

small-holder farmers have the potential for growth and expansion in what can be equated

to a frontier of Africa’s “Blue & Green Revolution” (as termed by the Africa Progress

Panel) . This provides a unique set circumstances for the youth to thoroughly exhaust this

dimension of applied ICT. Therefore, all ICT students with entrepreneurial ambition

should focus on using their knowledge to apply ICT to agriculture.

ICT’s for Extension Services

Extension is described in varying perspectives, but in a more general definition it is an

educational process which works with rural people, supports them and prepares them to

confront their problems more successfully. Therefore, in the context of Extension

Services: these are services which involve helping farmers improve the productivity of

their agriculture and also developing their abilities to direct their own future development

(FAO, 2014). For Ugandan youth specifically, there continues to be an opportunity to

develop ICT’s for extension services. Farmers are eager to access information regarding

new trends in agriculture and agro-related expertise. Extension services have been

delivered through traditional means (physical interactions), but there is an opportunity for

the services to be delivered through the use of ICT’s. Introducing ICT’s for extension

services in Rural Uganda is an opening for Ugandan youths to develop substantial

innovations based on ICT.

In support of this suggestion, a youth-led Non-Governmental Organization: The

Savannah Young Farmers Network (SYFN), in Ghana has delivered extension services

through the use of ICT’s. SYFN runs an Audio Conferencing for Extension (ACE)

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project in several communities in northern Ghana, offering innovative extension services.

“The ACE scheme addresses young farmers’ special interest in approaching agriculture as

a business, and helps them to explore some of the potential advantages – and pitfalls – of

becoming agripreneurs.12 Best of all, the system allows farmers to become involved in the

content of the agricultural extension they receive. ACE is a two-way process, allowing

farmers to ask questions about issues that interest them, and to steer sessions in the

direction that will prove most fruitful for them.

With the help of a mobile phone, audio conferencing technology and a portable external

loudspeaker, farmers in groups of 10–12 are linked up with agricultural extension workers

and researchers, who between them offer a wide range of expertise. Although the experts

may be some distance away, the technology enables farmers to seek their advice and ask

questions about relevant issues. Trained community agricultural information (CAI)

officers are on hand to ensure the smooth running of sessions, which generally take place

twice a week within any given farming community – a huge improvement on the previous

erratic services, when extension visits had to be made in person. An emergency meeting

may also be called for, should the need arise.” – (Case study drafted by C. Goemans and

A. Giuliani, adapted from CTA and Survey, and from the Internet).

Having highlighted the opportunity present within the field of ICT for youth, advocacy to

steer the graduate output from tertiary institutions towards applied ICT’s for agriculture

will be important. Ugandan youths will be in need of receiving orientation in order for

them to comprehend the existing opportunities and the scenarios where they could seek to

fit themselves. The most important revelation is that; the field of applied ICT for

agriculture has been explored, however it now deserves high intensity entrepreneurial

competition. Entrepreneurial competition will forge much needed ‘quality’ and elevate

the prospects of advancing sustainable rural development.

Agro-ecotourism as an Avenue to engage Youth in Sustainable Rural

Development

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“Agri-entertainment and -tourism—new, highly consumer-focused types of

agriculture—may offer additional options for diversification and adding stability to

farm incomes. Farmers have invented a wide variety of “entertainment farming”

options” – KATHERINE L. ADAMS (NCAT Agriculture Specialist, September

2004)

Ecotourism is a form of tourism where the main motivation of the tourists is the

observation and appreciation of nature and local traditions related to the nature and

must meet the following conditions:

preserving and protecting nature;

use local human resources;

educational character, respect for nature - awareness of tourists and local

communities;

Minimum negative impact on the natural environment and socio-cultural

(established definition of the World Tourism Organization).

Agro-ecotourism remains underdeveloped in Uganda, in the sense that it is

effectively pioneered by Tourism related companies and institutions. These

engagements are creations by Resorts and Tour companies which may establish

their activities in areas that are populated by or the property of rural communities.

Eco-tourism exists only so far as it is driven by companies and institutions that

constitute the Tourism industry. The onus has not exclusively been upon the

farmer to develop the agro-ecotourism potential of their land. This presents an

interesting avenue where the youth may inject themselves. As youths continue to

have difficulty in acquiring land, with older or parental beings owning most of the

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land – the youth have the opportunity to develop their homesteads capacity for

agro-ecotourism as an alternative source of income.

This sector of tourism is a niche market because it appeals to a certain caliber of

clientele and also demands that the farmer creating a form of entertainment from

their agricultural surroundings, has the capacity to be very creative. In illustration

of the aforementioned reality, we can draw on an example from the USA: “In

1993, 14 farmers in largely agricultural Dutchess County, New York, cooperated in

creating an educational tour using “crop art” as the focal point. Their aim was to

publicize the plight of the family farmer and create a positive image of agriculture

for the next generation of urban voters and consumers. The art consisted of large

sculptures made from hay bales and other farm crops”(NCAT, 2004). Undoubtedly

there is room for Ugandan farmers to make their own variations of

Agro-ecotourism as well. Farmers have different options available to them,

depending on the type of farm they own; Farms can offer Educational Tours,

create Crop Art or even make use of Natural Features in their vicinity which may

appeal to tourists.

To demonstrate how youth can engage in this type of venture, an excerpt from a

case study in The Bahamas:

“In 2010, the idea for the Siphiwe Honey Gold Farm and Preserve project was born

when Raynard Christopher Burnside (a 29-year-old, unemployed agricultural

science teacher) was searching for work. Between job applications and interviews,

he provided free tour guides to tourists visiting Rum Cay Island and saved the tips

that he received. In addition, he won a cash price of USD 5 000 when he entered the

Talent and Innovation Competition of the Americas (TIC Americas), 42 and he

invested it in the construction of agro-eco-lodges on 5 ha of family-owned land. In

addition, he receives donations, mostly from individuals and long-time residents of

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Rum Cay Island, who share a common interest and have a passion for conserving

the environment and promoting environmental education…Siphiwe Honey Gold

Farm and Preserve, established by Burnside, is a green certified agroecotourism

business promoting environmental education, natural resource conservation and

gronomy research through participation in ecotourism activities. It was certified

locally through collaboration with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, the Bahamas

National Trust and the Ministry of the Environment’s “going green” Green

Certification Programme.”- (Case study drafted by T. van‘t Wout, adapted from

Survey) Information provided by Mr Raynard Burnside, project initiator and

manager.

Case Study

Lisa Katusiime and Isaac Omiat were the winners of the Orange Community

Innovations Awards 2013, a competition that celebrates innovative mobile app

developments from within the community. Their winning innovation,

AgroMarketDay Android app, is a mobile application which is primarily oriented to

benefit the Ugandan farmer directly. AgroMarketDay “enables Ugandan farmers to

sell agricultural produce, get information about agricultural markets, market days,

modern farming methods and tools in different districts in Uganda” as described by

its developers.

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“We started this as students at

Makerere University, we

wanted to do something that

would help our parents who

are farmers. At first we had so

many ideas, but this was what

we finally decided on” – LISA

KATUSIIME

The Application

AgroMarketDay as an android application, allows the ‘trading farmer’ to upload

information about their produce onto the system, making it available to any user of

the app. Effectively, farmers are able to market their produce on a mobile platform –

the selling port allows them to upload pictures of their produce and clarify on the

type, quantity and selling price. The farmer may then upload additional information

such as their location and contact details for the use of a potentially interested buyer.

The concept is that, for a farmer hoping to reach a wider market margin than the

conventional public trading markets, this mobile application will link them to a

broader selection of potential customers. On the other hand, is the thought that a

buyer will appreciate being able to browse through the application as opposed to

searching through crowded markets to purchase what they need.

There also is presented a catalogue of “Farm Inputs and Tools” which advertises all

the available farming machinery and accessories that farmers could be interested in

purchasing. Additionally is an “Agric News” section which displays all the latest

agriculture-related topics, news, discussions and advertisements. For the buyer

specifically is the “Markets” section; this presents all agricultural produce markets

in Uganda. AgroMarketDay features all the available markets according to district.

This feature has a catalogue of all the produce available for purchase at each

individual market and also specifies the location of the market. This feature is

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extremely useful especially for its informative quality – general Market info is

supplied with details as to when the market is operational, the language spoken by

traders and the favourable seasons for buying produce. There are classifications of

the produce itself, indicating the Local Name, the Unit Measure and the price at the

particular market, which makes it favourable for the android owner to know before

they actually visit the market.

Snapshots of the Application display and functions in use:

Challenges and Observations

One of the challenges bemoaned by Lisa Katusiime, is difficulty in engaging farmers

to use the android application. For those farmers possessing smartphones, the

trouble has been in “educating the farmers on how to use the app”. This reflects a

relatively low ability to interact with ICT tools among farmers and rural-based

citizens. As a result, there has been a lower than expected usage by the target group

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(Ugandan farmers). Katusiime indicates that a more simplified module of the

application is under construction in order to rectify this and other problems. The

simplified module, will have certain adaptations that make it accessible to the

farmers and consumers that do not own smartphones. This would operate under the

mobile platform of Mobile Communications company Orange Uganda. As such,

persons with regular cellular phone models will be able to dial a certain number that

will redirect them to the application as a free service.

Comments obtained from AgroMarketDay team: “Our key technological challenge is that

all our data is stored on one virtual private server at the moment. Going forward, we would

need to consider having a back-up or a more secure server. Currently our company is

financing most of the project with support from Orange Uganda Limited. We hope to

generate income through advertising and service fees from clients uploading farm inputs

and tools. A lot of financial support is needed for the current missing gaps in market

intelligence, marketing and acquiring a short code for connecting with other

telecommunication companies. Market intelligence is needed to help gather information

about the different markets, farmers and prices of commodities. Since Likamis Software

Limited is a startup company, aggressive marketing will be needed through advertising in

the media; radio, television and newspapers.”

(Case study drafted by Philani H. Dhlamini)

Information provided by Ms Lisa Katusiime, project initiator and manager.

More information available at: http://agromarketday.com/

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Sample Focus Group Report

Summary of Project:

With the help of The Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE), I was able to

conduct a focus group discussion in July 2014, involving various representatives of

associations and groups for young farmers across Uganda. Through the focus group

discussion, I gathered information regarding the prospects of Agro-ecotourism as a

venture for small-holder farmers, especially the youth.

Introduction

UNFFE held a focus group discussion with 22 individuals who were young farmers

themselves or representatives of agriculture-related youth groups on 10 July 2014. The

focus group was conducted as part of the Federation’s National Agricultural show week

which featured an array of Agricultural exhibitions. Participants provided information in

two ways: written responses and group discussion.

The discussion was designed to gather information from the students in regard to the

following outcomes:

1. To understand if the young farmers have knowledge regarding Agro-ecotourism as a

supplementary venture and a source of alternative income.

2. To understand how young farmers perceive the agricultural landscapes in their

communities as having the potential to be tourist attractions.

3. To understand the level of interest that young farmers have towards adopting

Agro-ecotourism as a supplementary venture and a source of alternative income.

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Participant Demographics

22 participants took part in the focus group:

Seven women and fifteen men

16 participants were below 40 years old; 6 were above 40 years old

19 participants were directly involved in farming activities

3 participants were developers of ICT-based applications for agriculture

Student Perspectives

Outcome 1: To understand if the young farmers have knowledge regarding

Agro-ecotourism as a supplementary venture and a source of alternative income.

Do farmers know about Agro-ecotourism?

13 participants indicated they had some knowledge of Agro-ecotourism and were aware

of the possibility of adding it as a supplement to their current activities. 9 participants

indicated that they did not know ‘what’ agro-ecotourism is at all. For the participants who

had no knowledge of Agro-ecotourism, most explained that they perceived the tourism

industry and the agriculture sector as completely separate – they did not perceive

agricultural landscapes as having any capacity to be a tourist destination.

Outcome 2: To understand how young farmers perceive the agricultural landscapes in

their communities as having the potential to be tourist attractions.

What are farmers’ perceptions of their farms as potential tourist attractions?

In general, participants indicated that they believed their rural areas as a collective

agricultural communities had the potential to be tourist attractions. However, some

participants expressed little enthusiasm towards the ‘potential’ and indicated they were

more inclined to focus on their primary agricultural activity:

“Yes. I think our communities can attract people to visit and so on. Agro-tourism is

possible, just that we haven’t taken time to think of it. We spend more time worried

about our products and the market.”

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Outcome 3: To understand the level of interest that young farmers have towards adopting

Agro-ecotourism as a supplementary venture and a source of alternative income.

Are farmers interested in exploring Agro-ecotourism as a supplementary activity?

Only 1 participant indicated they were not interested in pursuing Agro-ecotourism to

supplement their agricultural activities. They further asserted that they were intent on

pursuing their primary activities and could not afford to invest in extra activities. The rest

of the participants expressed interest in Agro-ecotourism, for one particular individual

Conclusion

The objective to identify opportunities for youth in Uganda to make lasting contributions

to the development of rural areas whilst promoting sustainable agricultural practices and

biodiversity conservation in these agro-based communities – has been fulfilled. In this

regard the question of how ICT's and Agro-ecotourism can be utilized as a means of

engaging youth in the sustainable development process in Uganda has been answered.

The observations made in the Scoping Study would suggest that:

1. ICT's can be utilized as ‘Solutions For Agriculture’ and as ‘Extension Services’ to

effectively engage Ugandan youths in the sustainable development process.

2. The field of Applied ICT has invaluable potential for the development of rural

communities – the creation of ICT innovations tailored for these communities is

an avenue for youth unemployment to be confronted and reduced.

3. Agro-ecotourism is a secondary activity for farmers that can be adopted

exclusively by young persons as a means of alternative income and for adding

stability to farm incomes.

4. Many farmers perceive their agricultural landscapes as having potential to be

agro-ecotourism destinations, however many have not seized the opportunity to

venture into agro-ecotourism as a secondary project to their farming activities.

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Acronyms and Abbreviations

ACE Audio Conferencing for Extension

CAI Community Agricultural Information

CIA Central Intelligence Agency

CTA Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

ICT Information and Communications Technology

IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development

NCAT National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service

SYFN Savannah Young Farmers Network (Ghana)

UNFFE Uganda National Farmers Federation

References

Africa Progress Panel (2014) Africa Progress Report 2014: Financing Africa’s Green and

Blue Revolutions, Geneva: Africa Progress Panel

FAO, IFAD, CTA (2014) Youth and Agriculture: Key Challenges and Concrete Solutions,

Rome: FAO, IFAD & CTA

Adam, K. L. (2004) Entertainment Farming and Agri-Tourism: Business Management

Guide, NCAT: http://www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/entertn.pdf

White, B. (2012) Agriculture and the Generation Problem: Rural Youth, Employment and

the Future of Farming, Oxford UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd

ICBE-RF Research Report No, 32/12 (2012) Rural Youth Entrepreneurs in East Africa: A

view from Uganda and Kenya, Dakar: ICBE-RF