Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
INCREASING youth participation in agribusiness could unlock Zimbabwe’s economic revival and help address high levels of youth unemployment, development practitioners have said.
Speaking at the launch of a youth-led research report titled Driving Growth: Catalysing Youth-led Agribusiness for Youth Empowerment and Zimbabwe’s Economic Revival, in Harare today, Restless Development Zimbabwe Hub Director Mr Lesley Garura said agriculture remains one of the country’s most promising sectors for creating jobs and improving livelihoods for young people.
The study was conducted under the Agri-ELEVATE D project and examined barriers and opportunities affecting youth participation in agricultural value chains in Harare and Nyanga.
Mr Garura said young people account for more than 46 percent of Zimbabwe’s population and represent a critical force for economic growth, but many remain excluded from meaningful economic opportunities.
“Young people are not just the future; they are the primary driver of our current economic growth,” he said.
He said an estimated 49,2 percent of Zimbabwean youths are classified as Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET), while many of those who are working are concentrated in the informal sector where incomes are often low and unstable.
Mr Garura said agriculture already employs about 37 percent of the country’s youth population and supports most rural households, yet many young people continue to view the sector as unattractive due to concerns over profitability, climate risks and long-term sustainability.
“Where there is a challenge, there is also an immense opportunity. Increasing youth participation across agricultural value chains is the master key to unlocking Zimbabwe’s demographic dividend,” he said.
The research gathered evidence from 521 young Zimbabweans in Harare and Nyanga, with 62 percent of participants being women. It was conducted by 12 young researchers using a youth-led methodology designed to capture lived experiences and practical challenges affecting young agripreneurs.
According to findings presented at the launch, access to finance, secure land tenure, mentorship and reliable markets remain some of the biggest obstacles preventing young people from scaling up agricultural enterprises.
The study found that urban youth in Harare face challenges related to limited access to land and high production costs, while young farmers in Nyanga struggle with transport costs, inadequate cold-chain infrastructure and increasing climate-related pressures.
Mr Garura said the findings demonstrate that youth are already actively participating in agriculture, but structural barriers continue to prevent many from transforming their enterprises into sustainable businesses.
He urged Government, development partners and the private sector to increase investments in youth-led agribusiness initiatives and create an enabling environment for innovation, particularly for young women and rural youth.
“This research is a call to action. Zimbabwe’s youth are not a problem to be solved; they are the solution,” he said.
Mr Garura said the report provides evidence-based recommendations that can help policymakers, financiers and development organisations design interventions that respond to the realities facing young people in agriculture.
The launch brought together government officials, development partners, civil society organisations and youth representatives to discuss ways of strengthening youth participation in agriculture and positioning the sector as a driver of inclusive economic growth.
