African Youth Demand Easier Financing, Certification to Scale Agro Businesses

What the report says

Young agroecology entrepreneurs from several African countries are pressing for easier access to finance, land and product certification as they seek to expand agricultural businesses. Their concerns were raised at the Africa Regional Youth Summit on Agroecology Business in Kampala, where participants discussed barriers that limit youth participation in farming, agribusiness and agricultural policymaking.

According to Nile Post, speakers said many young people face high collateral demands from financial institutions, difficult registration procedures and certification rules that are expensive to meet. Daphine Ampaire, chief executive of Mac Bee Honey Harvest Company Limited, argued that governments should treat agriculture as a business opportunity for young people rather than mainly as a retirement sector. She also called for simpler and more digital systems for business registration and certification so entrepreneurs can better understand requirements, costs and timelines.

Medius Bihunirwa of the PELUM Association Regional Secretariat said financing remains a major obstacle because many youth-led enterprises are still small and cannot meet conventional lending conditions. He suggested patient and impact financing models as possible alternatives. Francis Toya, a Kenyan youth entrepreneur, added that differing certification rules across African countries make it harder for local products to move across borders, and he urged a common continental approach.

The summit is also discussing youth involvement in the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, known as CAADP, and is expected to help shape a continental youth strategy for agroecology engagement. As reported by Nile Post, participants want young people to have a stronger role in decisions affecting Africa’s food systems, along with more mentorship, business skills and market access.