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Here’s why Gen Z need to get into farming
Gen Z can apply their technological skills to revolutionise farming.
What you need to know:
- While food imports drain African economies and our fertile soil remains underutilised.
- Africa has the land, we have an energetic population and the world needs the food.
We eat three times daily, sometimes even more depending on culture, yet our farmers, who produce the food, struggle to survive. Can you imagine how profitable the health sector would be if we fell sick three times a day and had to take pills or go to the hospital?
Last year I made a decision that shows the power of modern farming. When weather forecasts predicted heavy El Niño rains, I chose not to plant. My neighbours who ignored the warnings or were unaware of this information watched helplessly as their crops were washed away. The previous season, I had a bumper harvest having used seeds that were tested for our type of soil. My neighbours started saying that they should just follow what the doctor is doing. This is just one example of how technology can benefit farmers.
During our recent webinar on digital agriculture at Regenesys Business School, industry leaders echoed what I have long believed: Africa’s agricultural sector is an untapped goldmine. Agriculture’s evolution tells a fascinating story. We began as hunters and gatherers (first revolution), progressed to crop domestication with ploughs and livestock breeding (second revolution), advanced to irrigation systems and improved plant breeding (third revolution), and now stand at the threshold of the fourth revolution (Agriculture 4.0), powered by technology.
The stakes couldn't be higher. By 2050, we will need 70 per cent more food globally than we produce today. Traditional farming methods won’t meet this demand. We need a revolution, and Gen Z must lead it. Yet, here lies the tragic disconnect. While food imports drain African economies and our fertile soil remains underutilised, most Gen Z flee farms for overcrowded cities, often ending up worse off than if they had stayed in agriculture.
Agriculture 4.0 offers powerful solutions. Through precision farming, using real-time data to guide decisions, farmers can reduce input costs while increasing productivity, minimise food waste, enhance climate resilience and make farming profitable. Examples are already emerging. Climate-resilient crops are increasing yields despite unpredictable rainfall. Innovative soil testing combined with traditional knowledge is helping farmers overcome drought.
The transformation we need isn’t just about how we farm, it requires a fundamental shift in how we think about food. We must see agriculture as a full value chain comprising production, processing post-harvest handling and logistics. We don't need the entire Gen Z on farms. Agriculture 4.0 is about creating sophisticated value chains where Gen Z can apply their technological skills to revolutionise farming. We’re talking drone operators monitoring crop health and data analysts optimising water usage, among others.
The ingredients for success are already here: Africa has the land, we have an energetic population and the world needs the food. What remains is for policymakers to create enabling environments, financial institutions to back agricultural entrepreneurs, and our Gen Z to see farming as the next frontier.
Dr Osewe is the Regenesys Business School country director.