Tanzania's Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba has proposed a partnership with the World Food Prize Foundation to help young people access training, conduct research and build self-employment opportunities through modern agriculture. The foundation's leadership, including President Mashal Husain and Chief Executive Officer Tom Vilsack, welcomed the proposal and said they are ready to continue discussions about establishing the foundation's Youth Institute programme in Tanzania.
Dr Nchemba made the proposal during talks at the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa, in the United States. He said Tanzania wants to strengthen collaboration between its universities, agricultural research institutions and international partners. The goal is to equip young Tanzanians with the knowledge, technology and experience needed to operate agriculture as a business rather than a subsistence activity.
The Prime Minister highlighted ongoing government efforts to tackle barriers facing young people in farming, including limited access to land, capital and loans. He also noted the need to change perceptions that agriculture is only for people without other job options. Dr Nchemba pointed to the success of young people who have already established agricultural companies and created jobs for others as evidence of the sector's potential to generate employment and increase incomes.
According to the World Food Prize Foundation President, the Youth Institute equips students with research skills and enables them to propose solutions to challenges in food and agriculture. High-performing participants may also gain opportunities to participate in international programmes. Dr Nchemba additionally requested that the foundation consider hosting a regional DialogueNEXT meeting in Tanzania, a proposal to which Husain said the foundation was willing to continue discussing.
This partnership would support Tanzania's broader push to position agriculture as a growth engine for young people, complementing existing government initiatives to develop the sector and create employment opportunities across the country.