« GROWING PEOPLE » : A word from the General Delegate

It is our responsibility to prepare young people for opportunities in the agricultural sector.

Young Africans have no choice, they must roll up their sleeves and take ownership of agriculture at all levels, from workers and technicians to land owners and corporations; from the poor to the middle classes and millionaires. It is not up to agriculture to adapt, but for young people to adapt their skills to the needs of tomorrow’s agriculture: modern, efficient, sustainable and profitable. On the other hand, it is our responsibility to advise them and help them to train. The private and academic sectors must work together to define immediate needs. Over the past 15 years, COLEACP has set up a “fair and revolving training system” – fair because it is implemented by local experts who in turn pass their training down to others ; revolving because these local experts provide feedback and participate in identifying needs, improving existing systems and developing new tools.

Today our concern is to prepare young people so that they can take advantage of the opportunities that will inevitably arise in the coming decades with the development of agriculture. The ability of these young Africans to seize opportunities will form the fabric of the SMEs that are fundamental to sustainable economic growth. It is these young people who will supply the workforce to meet the needs of large agri-food companies investing in Africa.

This is my hope for agricultural companies and sectors in all African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, and in particular in sub-Saharan Africa. As African Development Bank President Akin Adesina often rightly reminds us, Africa will become the youngest continent on Earth in 2050 with 840 million children and adolescents. So many mouths to feed, brains to train well, hopes to be fulfilled – and actors in the sustainable development of Africa.

We are more convinced than ever of the importance of the role of the horticultural sector in food security, food improvement and socioeconomic development.

Guy Stinglhamber

General Delegate of COLEACP