Opportunities and challenges for youth’s participation in horticultural production in the

face of GlobalGAP standards in Kenya

Kangai, E1. and Mburu, J2.

1Early Career Fellow, FAC.2University of Nairobi

Outline

• Background• The problem and justification• Study methodology• Results and discussion• Conclusion and recommendations

2

Background • Focused on GlobalGAP standards in horticulture

• Main export market is Europe• Emerging markets- Asia, USA,

Japan, S.A• Smallholders supply >70% of

export vegetablesStatement of the problem• Ageing farmers—60 years on

average, Youth unemployment• Enforcement of GlobalGAP

presented various challenges for continued participation in export markets

Background continued

Objective of the studyTo analyse the opportunities and challenges for youths’

participation in horticulture following implementation of GlobalGAP standards

MethodologyStudy area6 districts in Central & Eastern provincesResearch design: Literature review, Community level

surveys and Household survey -117 youths in horticulture

Conceptual Framework

Actors

Youths, Exporters, government,

EXOGENOUS VARIABLES EXOGENOUS VARIABLES

ACTION DOMAIN

OUTCOMES

Opportunities

Challenges

EXOGENOUS VARIABLES

Figure 1: Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) Framework

Source: Adapted from Kirsten and Vink (2005) and Ostrom (2010).

Community attributes;

Norms, moral values,

Culture

Activities

GlobalGAP compliance

Horticulture production,

Market access

Rules in use

Formal and informal rules

Evaluation criteria

Actors

Youths, Market players, government, financiers and extension

Physical/material

Conditions: Land, capital

OUTCOMES

Opportunities

Challenges

Patterns of interaction

Social networks,

Business relations and Acquaintances

Evaluation criteria

Results and discussion

Variable of interest N Mean

Age (Years) 103 26

Years of schooling 101 8.6

Years of experience growing export crops

81 5.8

Average years in group 86 3.2Total acres of land owned 12 1.07

Total cultivated family land (acres)

90 1. 25

Total cultivated rented-in land (acres)

44 1. 07

Export crop income per season (US $)

59 739

Amount of credit obtained (US $)

34 146

Results continued

Trend of entry into horticulture-1.8% between 2001-2005; 1.1% between 2006-2010

Credit: 80% access informal sources only, 42.9% in form of input credit from exporters

-Most youths access US$ 26.7 per seasonCompliance status: 34% compliant, 33% pursuing

compliance

Results & discussion continued

Key: Strong link Moderate Weak link

Results & discussion continued

Youth perception on effects of compliance:

-High cost of production-Improved livelihoods-Better farm hygieneSources of new knowledge-Exporters and groups play a

key role in knowledge transfer and learning

Activities undertaken to improve knowledge on GlobalGAP

Results & discussion continuedChallenges OpportunitiesLow outreach of financiers in rural areas, Low group cohesion

Subsidized and guaranteed credit, risk capital

Resource constraints s.a. land Exporters’ technological package

Low literacy levels Innovations in ICT support services

Non-binding contracts Emerging markets-Asia, S.A, Japan

Limited awareness of the need for compliance to food safety standards

Envisaged development of irrigation infrastructure

Poor enforcement of standardsLack of appropriate skillsPoor coordination of youth programs

Conclusion & policy recommendations• Resource constraints, un-coordination & limited awareness of the need

to comply impede GlobalGAP compliance• Land policy should aim at improving land tenure agreements• Financial partners should design lending models which maximize on

social capital• Need for a platform/database to continuously capture data on youth

initiatives in agriculture• Youth need localized and youth friendly extension service delivery,

practical approach in learning • A need to harmonize activities of government agencies involved in

horticulture and match resources to roles• Need for stakeholders to continuously address factors that limit

profitability of the sector to make it attractive to the youth

Acknowledgement

• IDRC• CMAAE/University of Nairobi• Future Agricultures Consortium• Youths