1 YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN COFFEE Progreso Network Webinar Presented by: Chuaga Kinuthia 31 st July, 2014

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Outline 1.Introduction 2.The big question? 3.The current status. 4.Must we have the youths in coffee? 5.How do we engage the youth in coffee? 6.Why should the youth grow coffee? 7.Other opportunities available for the youths. 8.Can the youths be involved in coffee marketing? 9.Technology + Youth + Coffee = ? 10.Way forward? 3

introduction  In many african coffee producing countries, average age of coffee farmers is increasing.  Youth do not find it attractive to stay in coffee and leave the coffee farms to their elders.  Continuation of coffee production by “the next generation” is therefore at stake. 4

introduction  Youths are the future of the agricultural sector.  As the world population grows, agricultural productivity decreases and rural exodus threatens sustainable food production and supply.  Young farmers play an important role in ensuring food security for future generations. 5

THE BIG QUESTION ?  Why have we lost the youth in the coffee production?  How comes less or no young people own coffee bushes?  Where have we lost the young people?  Have we lost ground in trying to introduce young people to coffee growing?  Is there a way we can involve the young in coffee production? 6

The current status  Fewer youths are members of any contract farming  Youths are underrepresented in membership and governance of farmers associations  Youths have less resources in terms of land, technology and credit.  Youths have less access to technical training and extension programmes  Finally youths do not see a future for themselves in agriculture and most migrate to cities 7

must we have the youths in coffee?  YES! PRODUCTIVITY:  With the average age of a coffee farmer at 60 years, industry players forecast an unproductive sub-sector due to low numbers of young people taking up coffee farming. 8

CAREER CHOICE:  Agriculture has a negative image as a career choice in the eyes of the youth  The perception needs to be changed by focusing on making it attractive to young people.  They are ideal catalysts for change given their greater propensity and willingness to adopt new ideas, concepts and technology.  These are all critical in changing the way coffee farming is practiced and perceived. 9

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:  Decline of the industry has adversely affected the livelihoods of many rural people who depend on proceeds of the crop to sustain their families.  Given the employment opportunities in the sub- sector, coffee can play a significant role in impacting youth unemployment in Africa. 10

How do we engage the youths in coffee?  It is important to seek innovative ways to attract younger persons into the coffee value chain.  Ways that have been embraced are: 1.Mentorship 2.Representation in societies 3.Funding 4.Training 11

How do we engage the youths in coffee? MENTORSHIP:  Done by the parents giving the youth a few trees in which they are entitled to nurture until the coffee is harvested, processed and sold.  Examples: Gikanda F.C.S. & Dedan Kimathi University of Technology in Kenya 12

How do we engage the youths in coffee? REPRESENTATION IN SOCIETIES:  The committee members to include a youth representative  Motivation to those already engaged 13

How do we engage the youths in coffee? FUNDING:  Access to finance as the biggest challenge when the youth start farming.  Financial institutions can devise methods of rending to the youths 14

How do we engage the youths in coffee? TRAINING:  It is key when winning youths to growing of coffee.  Coffee is a ‘technical’ crop that require most of the youths trained on how to handle it professionally. 15

WHY SHOULD THE YOUTH GROW COFFEE What are estimated outcomes?  1 Tree when well nurtured yields 20kgs of Cherry  1,000 coffee tree under an acre (e.g. Batian variety)  This is approximately 20,000kgs per acre  1,000kgs of cherry yields 160kgs clean coffee hence for 20,000kgs one would yield 3,200kgs of clean coffee.  On a good day in the auction, the green coffee may on average fetch about 6$ per kg. Hence 3,200kgs will be about 19,200$ 16

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Other opportunities available for the youths in coffee What other opportunities has coffee created for the youths other than farming? 1.Coffee Baristas 2.Cuppers 3.Training 4.Research 5.Apps developers 19

Coffee baristas  With the current upsurge of coffee shops in major towns, youths have been involved as coffee baristas.  These are professionals in a coffee house who prepares and serve espresso based coffee drinks.  With O-Level qualification you can train for a month and become a barista. 20

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