How To Engage More People In Agriculture

Agriculture is suffering an image problem. It’s hardly an attractive option for the majority of the nation’s youth, and many farmers are being driven out of the trade due to poor economic payoff and little room for advancement despite the intensive labor and resource allocation. But agriculture needs more people to survive and thrive. Here are some ways to engage more into the sector. 

Image source: Pixabay.com

Sell agriculture to young people 

Farming should start to be portrayed as anybody’s game, including young, promising individuals. Federal and state governments should work harder to build its benefits as a career, foster more opportunities for increased market engagement, and allocate budget for training, development, and innovation in the field. This also includes reforms to agricultural tertiary education. 

Pave the way for access to land and credit 

It’s a reality today: land is typically scarce, and even those interested in farming have difficulty accessing the land and resources they need without collateral and getting significant credit. There should be innovative agricultural financing and aggressive programs for small businesses to venture into the industry via microfinance and similar assistance. 

Emphasize sustainability 

Attract more people into the agricultural trade by highlighting relevant themes and practices today, from climate-smart agriculture that ensures food security in a changing climate to modern techniques such as precision farming technologies. 

Make it a family affair Create programs that stress on more than just growing crops; promote how the act can cultivate the next generation of farmers and help families transition from beginner farms to winning enterprises via business plans, access to capital, marketing, and continuing education. 

Image source: Pixabay.com

Dr. Arden Andersen envisions better lives for all Kansans. The gubernatorial candidate is a family and occupational medicine physician, president of his sub-specialty college, former vocational-agriculture teacher, farm consultant, Air Force Reserve Colonel, and Chief of Aerospace Medicine. Get similar updates on his Twitter page.