By Darasimi Kikelomo
Agriculture, long perceived as an unstable or unattractive career path for young people, is taking on a new face in rural Africa, thanks to innovative approaches that are transforming farms into hubs of opportunity, leadership, and entrepreneurship.
In a recent episode of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Future of Work podcast, the spotlight fell on Clara Kamlomo, a young agricultural entrepreneur from Malawi who has turned her passion for farming into a thriving business. A beneficiary of the ILO’s ProAgro YOUTH project, Kamlomo received specialized training and support that helped her move beyond subsistence farming to establish an agribusiness that now employs and mentors others in her community.
“Agriculture is not just about survival,” Kamlomo said. “It can be a platform for innovation, for building businesses, and for creating jobs that keep young people in their communities.”
Her story reflects a broader shift in the way young people are engaging with agriculture across Africa. The ProAgro YOUTH initiative, spearheaded by the ILO, is working to equip rural youth with the skills, resources, and market access they need to see farming as a viable and rewarding career.
Chiara Curcio, a youth employment expert at the ILO who joined the podcast discussion, said the project is helping to rewrite the narrative of rural employment.
“For too long, agriculture has been seen as the last resort for young people,” Curcio explained. “What we’re seeing now is that with the right training, access to finance, and mentorship, agriculture can become a space of leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation.”
The conversation highlighted both the challenges and the opportunities of rural youth employment in Africa. Millions of young people in rural areas still face barriers such as limited training, lack of investment, and poor infrastructure. Yet, projects like ProAgro YOUTH demonstrate that when these barriers are addressed, agriculture can serve as a powerful engine for youth empowerment and rural development.
As Kamlomo’s journey shows, the future of Africa’s agriculture may lie not only in feeding communities but also in nurturing a new generation of leaders who see the land as a space of dignity, creativity, and growth.
