The Chief Executive Officer of Agro Tech Liberia has issued a strong and thought-provoking message, warning that Liberia’s fight against hunger and poverty could fail if urgent action is not taken to involve young people in agriculture.
Quoting a statement by Mike Jone G. Ondoy, former President of the 4H Club Municipal Federation in the Philippines—“Invest in the youth to invest in farming to invest in our future”—the CEO emphasized that the future of Liberia’s food system depends heavily on empowering its young population.
According to him, despite the critical role agriculture plays in national development, young people remain largely excluded from planning, investment, and implementation processes. He stressed that building a sustainable and resilient food system without the energy, innovation, and participation of youth will yield little to no results.
“I believe we cannot defeat hunger and reduce poverty—our greatest challenges—if we fail to invest in young people so they can invest in agriculture,” he stated.
With over 60 percent of Liberia’s population under the age of 35, the CEO argued that national agricultural investments must be intentionally aligned with the interests and realities of the youth. However, current trends paint a worrying picture. A Mercy Corps study shows that only 3 percent of Liberian youth are interested in farming, a statistic he described as deeply alarming.
He raised critical concerns about whether existing agricultural programs truly address the needs of young people, questioning their accessibility, inclusiveness, and relevance. He also called for more youth-centered initiatives that directly support innovation and entrepreneurship in agriculture across both urban and rural communities.
The CEO warned that continued neglect of the youth will result in minimal impact, regardless of the level of financial investment in the sector. “This approach has not worked in the past and is not working now, no matter how much we invest or promote it,” he added.
To reverse the trend, he proposed several key recommendations:
- Establish a national internship program under the Ministry of Agriculture to help young graduates gain practical experience and transition into the workforce. Develop youth-focused agricultural programs that provide flexible funding and support tailored to young entrepreneurs. Strengthen the entire agricultural value chain, ensuring that production, processing, marketing, and distribution are all supported. Create a Youth in Agriculture Desk at the Ministry of Agriculture to engage young people, gather feedback, and guide policy decisions.
He concluded by warning that ignoring the youth in agriculture is a dangerous path, likening it to “a military general going to war without soldiers.”
The message serves as a wake-up call to policymakers, development partners, and stakeholders to urgently rethink strategies and place young people at the center of Liberia’s agricultural transformation.
