Youth inclusion in value chain development: a case of the aquaculture in Nigeria

Many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have made youth inclusion a top priority in their development agendas. This is aimed at overcoming social, technical, and institutional obstacles and providing fair and significant opportunities for the growth of young people. Inclusive agricultural value c...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Nigussie, Likimyelesh, Minh, Thai Thi, Senaratna Sellamuttu, S.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Springer 2024
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/144201
_version_ 1855525365812822016
author Nigussie, Likimyelesh
Minh, Thai Thi
Senaratna Sellamuttu, S.
author_browse Minh, Thai Thi
Nigussie, Likimyelesh
Senaratna Sellamuttu, S.
author_facet Nigussie, Likimyelesh
Minh, Thai Thi
Senaratna Sellamuttu, S.
author_sort Nigussie, Likimyelesh
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have made youth inclusion a top priority in their development agendas. This is aimed at overcoming social, technical, and institutional obstacles and providing fair and significant opportunities for the growth of young people. Inclusive agricultural value chain development (VCD) is being used to address youth unemployment in the region. The Nigerian government and its partners have invested in aquaculture VCD to create employment opportunities for young men and women, but the participation rate is low, at around 2%. Further, research and practices focusing on rural youth inclusion in VCD is scant, with biases towards urban youth inclusion. This study explored youth engagement in the aquaculture value chain and how the chain features and context shape inclusive mechanisms/patterns of youth inclusion in VCD processes. We used the integrated livelihood asset framework, access approach, and VCD approaches to present an analysis of conditions influencing the inclusion of young men and women in the aquaculture VCD in Nigeria. Accordingly, two youth inclusion strategies were identified: investment and risk management strategies. Young men and women from better-off households adopt investment strategy and dominate the production function. They use their resources, social networks and support from youth-focused aquaculture projects to invest in production functions. Those adopting a risk management strategy dominate the processing, distribution, and marketing functions. They dominantly use social networks, support from aquaculture projects, and Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to mitigate risks. The high demand for fresh and processed fish, supportive policies, and youth-centered aquaculture projects encourages the engagement of young men and women to adopt either of the strategies. However, they face challenges such as high-cost and low-quality inputs, lack of tailored services, inadequate infrastructure, and sociocultural norms. This study contributes to youth inclusion literature, provides a comprehensive theoretical lens for understanding youth inclusion in VCD, and offers insights into the specific case of young men and women’s engagement in the aquaculture sector in Nigeria.
format Journal Article
id CGSpace144201
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2024
publishDateRange 2024
publishDateSort 2024
publisher Springer
publisherStr Springer
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace1442012025-10-26T12:52:10Z Youth inclusion in value chain development: a case of the aquaculture in Nigeria Nigussie, Likimyelesh Minh, Thai Thi Senaratna Sellamuttu, S. youth social inclusion value chains aquaculture women livelihoods assets investment risk management strategies Many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have made youth inclusion a top priority in their development agendas. This is aimed at overcoming social, technical, and institutional obstacles and providing fair and significant opportunities for the growth of young people. Inclusive agricultural value chain development (VCD) is being used to address youth unemployment in the region. The Nigerian government and its partners have invested in aquaculture VCD to create employment opportunities for young men and women, but the participation rate is low, at around 2%. Further, research and practices focusing on rural youth inclusion in VCD is scant, with biases towards urban youth inclusion. This study explored youth engagement in the aquaculture value chain and how the chain features and context shape inclusive mechanisms/patterns of youth inclusion in VCD processes. We used the integrated livelihood asset framework, access approach, and VCD approaches to present an analysis of conditions influencing the inclusion of young men and women in the aquaculture VCD in Nigeria. Accordingly, two youth inclusion strategies were identified: investment and risk management strategies. Young men and women from better-off households adopt investment strategy and dominate the production function. They use their resources, social networks and support from youth-focused aquaculture projects to invest in production functions. Those adopting a risk management strategy dominate the processing, distribution, and marketing functions. They dominantly use social networks, support from aquaculture projects, and Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to mitigate risks. The high demand for fresh and processed fish, supportive policies, and youth-centered aquaculture projects encourages the engagement of young men and women to adopt either of the strategies. However, they face challenges such as high-cost and low-quality inputs, lack of tailored services, inadequate infrastructure, and sociocultural norms. This study contributes to youth inclusion literature, provides a comprehensive theoretical lens for understanding youth inclusion in VCD, and offers insights into the specific case of young men and women’s engagement in the aquaculture sector in Nigeria. 2024-05-07 2024-05-31T14:50:22Z 2024-05-31T14:50:22Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/144201 en Open Access Springer Nigussie, Likimyelesh; Minh, Thai Thi; Senaratna Sellamuttu, S. 2024. Youth inclusion in value chain development: a case of the aquaculture in Nigeria. CABI Agriculture and Bioscience, 5:44. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-024-00243-0]
spellingShingle youth
social inclusion
value chains
aquaculture
women
livelihoods
assets
investment
risk management
strategies
Nigussie, Likimyelesh
Minh, Thai Thi
Senaratna Sellamuttu, S.
Youth inclusion in value chain development: a case of the aquaculture in Nigeria
title Youth inclusion in value chain development: a case of the aquaculture in Nigeria
title_full Youth inclusion in value chain development: a case of the aquaculture in Nigeria
title_fullStr Youth inclusion in value chain development: a case of the aquaculture in Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed Youth inclusion in value chain development: a case of the aquaculture in Nigeria
title_short Youth inclusion in value chain development: a case of the aquaculture in Nigeria
title_sort youth inclusion in value chain development a case of the aquaculture in nigeria
topic youth
social inclusion
value chains
aquaculture
women
livelihoods
assets
investment
risk management
strategies
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/144201
work_keys_str_mv AT nigussielikimyelesh youthinclusioninvaluechaindevelopmentacaseoftheaquacultureinnigeria
AT minhthaithi youthinclusioninvaluechaindevelopmentacaseoftheaquacultureinnigeria
AT senaratnasellamuttus youthinclusioninvaluechaindevelopmentacaseoftheaquacultureinnigeria