What is ARDYIS?

21 September 2011, Porto Novo, Benin. Seventy-one youths have completed a month-long training on various aspects of agricultural production at the Songhai Centre in Porto Novo, the political capital of Benin, as part of an ECOWAS capacity building programme to encourage and empower Community youth for self employment.

The training was organized by the Ouagadougou-based ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre, in collaboration with the Songhai Centre, one of the regional centres of excellence recognized by ECOWAS for youth development.

Engaging the youth in future agricultural developments in Africa will take centre stage at Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) Annual Regional Food Security Policy Dialogue in Swaziland on 19-23 September 2011 (www.fanrpan.org).

“The time is now to ensure that the youth are part of decisions about the future of agriculture in Africa – they are after all the generation that will have to ensure that the continent’s growing population is fed,” says FANRPAN Chief Executive Officer Dr Lindiwe Majele Sibanda. ”It is the responsibility of current leaders in agriculture to ensure the involvement of the youth in development– and that is what we plan to do.”

A few days before the meeting of Agriculture Ministers of the G20 countries, ONE * has organized a meeting between some journalists and Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, Executive Secretary of the Agency of NEPAD and former Prime Minister of Niger, which analyzes here, the future of the continent. Excerpts follow.

The YoBloCo awards is a blog competition on Youth and agriculture launched by CTA in partnership with FARA, Yam-Pukri Association, CAFAN, AYF, ANAFE, SPC/PAFPNET, within the framework of ARDYIS project. This article presents the most frequently asked questions about the Awards.