By: Dr. Tey Yeong Sheng

Youths are not interested in agriculture. This a general impression induced partly by observations that young people are leaving farming in developing countries. Reluctance of non-farm youths to become agricultural labour shape another part of the impression held by international and national development agencies and policymakers. Researchers have gone far striving to find a light in the gloom. A common finding remains that negative perceptions around farm environment and profitability are the leading reasons contributing to the conundrum.

Agriculture is business. John Davis and Ray Goldberg who coined the term of agribusiness in 1957 would refute the narrow scope of agricultural employment above. Agribusiness is an industry engaged in the producing operations of a farm, the manufacture and distribution of farm equipment and supplies, and the processing, storage, and distribution of agri-food products. It certainly goes beyond the farm production level. Future understanding of youth interest in agriculture should follow such a value chain approach.

Date of Input: 01/11/2020 | Updated: 14/06/2022 | noorbaiti