A future for youth in rural Latin America and the Caribbean

RURALYOUTH AND Women, and Ministers for Agriculture from the Eastern Caribbean States were recently engaged in a studytour in Costa Rica where they examined the future for youth in Latin America and the Caribbean.The conclusions are captured in this article by Manuel Otero, Jorge Werthein and Sandra Ziegler The Latin American and Caribbean region is undergoing a rapid demographic transformation: falling birth and mortality rates, coupled with an increase in life expectancy, are resulting in an ageing population.

In this context, the situation of rural youth becomes more relevant. Persistent rural-urban migration, far from declining, is intensifying, thereby increasing inequality and weakening rural communities.

This exodus stems from multiple causes. Historically, rural areas have been characterized by deficiencies in infrastructure, basic services, connectivity, and educational and work opportunities. Moreover, young people enjoy limited representation in decision-making fora and there is a mistaken belief that equates urban life with progress. Thus, rural youth, with no prospects for advancement, opt to migrate to mid-sized or capital cities or even abroad, where they must often work in informal or precarious employment.

This phenomenon not only affects those who leave but also has grave consequences for the places they have left behind: loss of human capital, a disruption in generational succession in agriculture, weakening of the fabric of the community and the abandonment of productive land. Conversely, the receiving cities must grapple with an overload of services, unstructured expansion and new pockets of exclusion.

Given this panorama, there is an urgent need for a change in direction, with the adoption of concrete and coordinated actions that place rural youth at the center of a sustainable development strategy.

Reversing the exodus does not mean preventing the movement of people but creating real alternatives so that remaining also becomes a desirable option. First, basic living conditions in rural areas will need to be improved, through investments in transportation, digital connectivity, health, housing, access to land and education.

The creation of a virtuous circle will not only require promotion of policies by the State, but also collaboration with the private sector, community organizations and international technical cooperation.

Secondary and technical education in rural areas will be a fundamental pillar of this transformation,

harnessing new knowledge developed on the frontier of science and the contribution of universities. Education should be relevant, of a high standard and aligned with the challenges of the 21st century, incorporating digital knowledge, agricultural innovation and a linkage to the productive environment.

Universities will play a key role as generators of knowledge and agents of territorial cohesion. Strengthening national science, technology and innovation systems in partnership with rural areas will enable the region to take advantage of the transformative potential of digital agriculture and new expertise in the biosciences and to apply them in rural areas.

Another essential component will be the development of an agribusiness ecosystem for youth. Policies must be implemented to spur production, accessible financing, technical training and mentorship programs.This ecosystem must facilitate access to land, infrastructure and markets, while providing frameworks for sustainability, the inclusion of rural women and community participation.

The private sector should be invited to partner in this process, assisting in job creation and economic revitalization, whereas international cooperation can contribute by providing resources, training and technology transfer.

In summary, rural youth must be recognized as the protagonists of the future. Developing their capacities, guaranteeing their right to determine where and how they live, and integrating them into rural development strategies will be indispensable if we are to reverse current trends. Investing in rural youth is investing in social cohesiveness, food security and sustainability throughout the region. The time to act is now. (IICA)